V. M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN

CURRENT SITUATION IN INDIAN LEATHER INDUSTRY

2012-02-03T06:36:00.000+05:30

CURRENT SITUATION IN INDIAN LEATHER INDUSTRY

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

Leather market continues to be firm. It is generally believed in the leather circles that this year 2012 will also be as active as last year in growth, production and export of leather and leather products. The overwhelming interest shown by exporters, importers and dealers of leather, leather products, chemicals, machinery and equipment etc. to participate in the present India International Leather Fair proves that the Indian leather industry is determined to attract the world.

INCREASE IN EXPORTS

According to Council for Leather Exports, the export of leather and leather products increased by 27.33% to US$2741.48 million or Rs.125604.91 million during the period April-October 2011 from US$ 2152.98 million or Rs. 98654.40 million during the same period in 2010. The details of the product wise export performance during these periods are given below:

CATEGORY (Value in Million Rs) % VARIATION

APRIL-OCT 2010 APRIL-OCT 2011

FINISHED LEATHER 21998.24 26271.08 19.42%

LEATHER FOOTWEAR 36063.70 43882.36 21.68%

FOOTWEAR COMPONENTS 5666.17 7758.73 36.93%

LEATHER GARMENTS 10110.00 15331.20 51.64%

LEATHER GOODS 21140.53 27565.04 30.39%

SADDLERY AND HARNESS 2252.81 2855.87 26.77%

NON-LEATHER FOOTWEAR 1422.95 1940.63 36.38%

TOTAL 98654.40 125604.91 27.32%

Source : DGCI &S

CATEGORY (Value in Million US$) % VARIATION

APRIL-OCT 2010 APRIL-OCT 2011

FINISHED LEATHER 480.08 573.40 19.44%

LEATHER FOOTWEAR 787.04 957.79 21.70%

FOOTWEAR COMPONENTS 123.66 169.34 36.95%

LEATHER GARMENTS 220.64 334.62 51.66%

LEATHER GOODS 461.36 601.64 30.41%

SADDLERY AND HARNESS 49.16 62.33 26.79%

NON-LEATHER FOOTWEAR 31.05 42.36 36.40%

TOTAL 2152.98 2741.48 27.33%

The following table gives the details of India’s export of leather and leather products to different countries during April-October 2011 vis-à-vis April-October 2010

COUNTRY (Value in Million US$)

APRIL-OCT % change

2010 2011

GERMANY 285.00 426.23 49.56%

U.S.A. 198.98 243.28 22.26%

U.K. 279.13 316.27 13.31%

ITALY 249.89 317.05 26.88%

FRANCE 142.95 159.22 11.39%

HONG KONG 196.58 199.15 1.31%

SPAIN 134.32 168.38 25.35%

RUSSIA 9.20 17.64 91.74%

NETHERLANDS 81.57 109.38 34.08%

AUSTRALIA 27.88 35.27 26.51%

NEWZEALAND 3.19 3.22 0.80%

DENMARK 28.81 36.75 27.58%

GREECE 5.93 5.90 -0.49%

CANADA 16.82 22.00 30.78%

SWITZERLAND 12.83 19.02 48.25%

SWEDEN 18.54 26.14 40.98%

S. AFRICA 17.56 22.38 27.47%

AUSTRIA 14.10 19.47 38.06%

BELGIUM 40.35 64.78 60.57%

JAPAN 11.21 15.44 37.73%

PORTUGAL 21.19 28.82 36.05%

CHINA 42.87 66.57 55.27%

IRELAND 3.03 3.88 27.97%

U.A.E. 40.09 59.09 47.39%

INDONESIA 10.97 13.41 22.31%

KOREA REP. 17.76 23.30 31.23%

FINLAND 6.94 11.02 58.91%

SAUDI ARABIA 12.62 22.89 81.36%

OTHERS 222.68 285.51 28.21%

TOTAL 2152.98 2741.48 27.33%

Source : DGCI &S

INCENTIVES NEEDED TO COMPETE IN WORLD MARKET

Although there is increase in the exports, exporters of leather and leather products say that they are facing a difficult situation never witnessed before as raw hides and skins are scarce both at home and abroad and prices are exorbitant. In short an unprecedented situation prevails in the market. Hence they are of the opinion that the government would do well to announce some incentives including interest subsidy as demanded by Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports (CLE) for all categories of exporters to enable them to compete in the highly competitive world market where countries like China and Pakistan are active posing a big challenge to Indian exporters.

A leading exporter pointed out that there is an urgent need for the CLE to appoint “an expert team” to analyse the present market situation prevailing in the world leather industry for future planning of our country’s vital leather industry.

CHENNAI MARKET

Demand continues for all varieties of leather and prices remain almost unchanged. Exporters buy their requirements at around the following prices:

E. I. Tanned goat skins

4/7 sq. ft. Run Rs. 75, Run/V/IF combined Rs. 60, V/IF/LIF Rs.55, Lining Rs. 42, and Rejection Rs. 35

5/7 sq. ft. ABC Suede Rs. 60, All Suede Rs. 55, All Suede up to Heel grip Rs. 50

E. I. Tanned sheep skins

4/7 sq. ft. Lot (mostly Run, V and IF) Rs.90

F/C and wet blue goat and sheep skins are also in good demand at different prices depending on the quality and selection. In leather Centres like Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Erode, Dindigul etc. hectic business is taking place.

OVERSEAS MARKET

The following are the approximate quotations of exporters:

GOAT LEATHERS

Material Size/sq. ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F

Goat upper leather 3/5 or 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC 2.75

Goat milled leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm E 2.25

Goat suede leather 3/5 or 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.50/2.00/1.50

Goat lining leather

4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 1.60/1.50/1.40

6/9 0.6/0.8 mm TR-1/2/3 1.65/1.55/1.45

Goat lining leather lot 3/9 0.5 up mm Stock lot 1.25

SHEEP LEATHERS

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq.ft. C&F

Sheep Suede/Cabretta leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 3.00/2.50/2.00

Sheep Suede/cabretta leather 6/9 0.8/1.00 mm ABC/D/E 3.25/2.75/2.25

Sheep lining leather 3/5 or 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 combined 1.75

(Indian Leather, February 2012)

Education cannot be categorised as a business product...... : Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

2012-01-22T07:59:00.000+05:30

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2814140.ece?homepage=true

Former President APJ Abdul Kalam said education cannot be categorised as a business product or system and only great teachers can inspire quality learning.

Addressing the students of Maharaja Sayajirao University and Prince Ashokraje Gaekwad School at two separate functions on Wednesday night, Dr. Kalam said, “It is not the great building or a great facility or great advertisements which give quality, but loveable education and great teachers do.”

“Education at the primary level has to be delivered in an integrated way by great teachers through great syllabus and by promoting affinity between parents, students and teachers. It cannot be business product or system,” he said.

He suggested educational institutions to introduce cutting edge technologies for enabling the students to make faster progress in their learning process.

Capacity building through education will enable students to deal with the real world, particularly to grow in their professional career and participate in the national development, he said.

Research creativity, innovation, ability to use high technology, entrepreneurial leadership, and moral leadership capacities are to be built up among students in their formative years by educational institutions for their participation in nation building tasks, Dr. Kalam said.

“If we develop in all our students these five capacities, we will produce ‘Autonomous Learner’ a self—directed, self controlled, lifelong learner who will have the capacity to both respect authority and at the same time is capable of questioning authority, in an appropriate manner,” he said.

Dr. Kalam also emphasised the need on students planting at least five trees and nurturing them for clean environment.

The challenges of corruption and moral turpitude in the nation, environmental degradation and need of building a compassionate society have to be overcome for making the country economically developed nation by 2020, he said.

Dr. Kalam also opened a scheme of Ramkrishna Mission Memorial which was launched at the youth convention at the C C Mehta auditorium of MS University as part of the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Swami Vivekananda.

INTEREST SUBSIDY: URGENT NEED OF THE HOUR - MR. M. RAFEEQUE AHMED

2012-01-10T08:29:00.003+05:30

INTEREST SUBSIDY: URGENT NEED OF THE HOUR - CLE CHAIRMAN

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

The Indian leather and leather products industry enjoys a valuable place in the world leather market. The types of leather, shoes, garments and goods overseas customers require are made here and exported. Despite competitions from countries like China and Pakistan, Indian exporters are faring well with their best efforts and timely assistance from the government. No doubt the progressive policy of the government is paying high dividends. However the general feeling among small entrepreneurs and traders is that their interest is not properly protected by the government and hence they are facing a threat of extinction silently. They want the government to come out with some “protective measures” to save them from collapse. It is well known that many small tanners and traders are already out of the market.

Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports (CLE), has said recently that “there is slowdown in exports” and it is endorsed by many leading exporters. The inability of small exporters to operate in the present difficult market can be the main reason for the slow pace of exports. The advantage available to exporters in exchange rates is not much in comparison with increases in prices of raw hides and skins, tanning materials, labour charges, etc. The CLE Chairman has also rightly pointed out that the industry needs a stable currency to make future plans for exports.

As the leather industry is in a tight corner at present due to an unprecedented world phenomenon which nobody is able to understand and explain in proper perspective, Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed has said that the government should extend increased rate of “interest subsidies” for all types of exporters. It is welcomed by all. At present only a few export sectors like handicrafts, handlooms and carpets are enjoying the benefit of 2% interest subsidy given by the government.

Export Orders

There is no report of much fresh export orders due to Christmas and New Year holidays. According to reliable sources, exporters are offering their products – leather, shoes, garments, goods etc – at almost unchanged or slightly higher prices even though these prices are not workable as competitions from other countries are high in the world leather market. As far as goat and sheep upper and lining leathers are concerned, the quotations of exporters are at around the following prices:

S/C AND F/C GOAT FINISHED LEATHERS

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F

Goat upper leather 3/5 0.6/0.8 mm ABC 2.60

Goat suede leather 3/5 and 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.10/1.80/1.60

Goat lining leather 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 1.60/1.50/1.40

S/C AND F/C SHEEP FINISHED LEATHERS

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq.ft. C&F

Sheep suede/cabretta leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.50/2.00/1.50

Sheep Suede/cabretta leather 6/9 0.8/1.00 mm ABC/D/E 2.75/2.25/1.75

Sheep lining leather 3/5 and 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 combined 1.70

LOCAL MARKET

In the Chennai local market, arrivals of tanned goat skins are limited as usual and there is good demand for almost all items. Exporters of leather and leather products are regularly covering their requirements at almost unchanged prices. A tanner pointed out that though there is good demand, tanners like him are not able to do much because of continuously ruling high prices of raw hides and skins everywhere in the country. The undeniable fact is that during the past three or four decades there was not a period like this when prices of all types of raw hides and skins had gone up to this extent. Moreover transactions are also now mostly by cash which was not the case in the past at all.

The following are the approximate ruling prices of tanned goat skins

3/5 or 4/7 sq. ft. Run selection Rs. 60/-, All Suedes Rs.56/-, Suedes upto Heel grip Rs.48/-, Linings A/B/C Rs.41/- and Rejections Rs.32/- (All per sq. ft.)

Raw skins and hides

Prices of standard and quality raw skins and hides are almost unchanged in different centres in the country. Of course prices are lower in those areas where these items have suffered damages due to heavy rains and cannot be used for upper or suede leathers.

(Indian Leather, January 2012)

MADRASA STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION IN VARIOUS COURSES FROM THE NEXT ACADEMIC SESSION IN AMU

2012-01-03T19:51:00.001+05:30

Madarsa students eligible for admission to various courses run by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from the next academic session.

ALIGARH January 3: In order to integrate Madarsa education with mainstream education system, the Academic Council of the Aligarh Muslim University has resolved to declare Madarsa students eligible for admission to various courses run by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from the next academic session.

Presiding over the meeting, Prof. P.K. Abdul Azis, Vice Chancellor remarked that founder of the institution, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan wanted to integrate religious education with modern education and this decision is aimed at fulfilling his cherished dream.

The Academic council has approved the report in this regard submitted by the Dean, Faculty of Theology, Prof. Ali Mohd. Naqvi and also authorized the Deans of the concerned faculties to submit the specific proposal within 10 days to the Controller of Examination.

The Academic Council has also accorded the status of bonafide students to the students of the centre for paramedical courses.

Regarding the recognition of paramedical courses, the Academic council has authorized the coordinator of professional courses to take up the matter with the U.P. Govt. on top priority basis.

With a view to upgrading the existing paramedical courses, the Principal JN Medical College has been assigned to submit a comprehensive proposal for establishing a separate full-fledged paramedical college under XII plan.

In order to provide better job opportunities to students, the Academic Council has resolved to set-up a Central Placement Cell and nominated Dr. Afifullah Khan, Department of Wild Life Sciences, as the Honorary Placement Officer to initiate the process.

The Academic Council of the University has resolved to explore the possibility of introducing new courses such as M. Sc. (Information Technology), B. Sc. (Geophysics), Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Bachelor of Social Works (BSW) and Bachelor of Mass Communication (BMC) and the matter was referred to the Board of Studies of the concerned departments.

The Academic Council has bestowed the status of Professor Emeritus on Prof. S. M. Hadi approving the recommendation of the Board of Studies of the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences.

(Dr. Rahat Abrar)

Public Relation Officer

AMU, Aligarh.

PHOTOGRAHPS OF IOS VALEDICTORY FUNCTION

2011-12-12T07:56:00.001+05:30

IOS SEMINAR RESOLUTIONS PASSED IN CHENNAI

2011-12-12T07:50:00.002+05:30

INSTITUTE OF OBJECTIVE STUDIES, NEW DELHI In collaboration with
THE NEW COLLEGE, CHENNAI : Two-day International Conference on

“CHALLENGES BEFORE YOUTH IN THE CONTEMP0RARY WORLD” held on 10th and 11th of December 2011 at the New College, Chennai.
It is a matter of satisfaction that a two-day (December 10-11, 2011) International Conference on “Challenges Before Youth in Contemporary World’ is concluded on in Chennai. The conference was organized by the Institute of Objective Studies (IOS), New Delhi in collaboration with the New College – Autonomous, Chennai. It has been able to muster support and participation of all sections of society in general, but youth and women in particular. The Chennai Chapter of the IOS is appreciated for its efforts in organising the conference at such a scale and the New College, Chennai for extending its full support to make the event successful.

The conference adopted the following resolutions in its concluding session.

RESOLUTIONS

1. It is resolved that serious efforts be taken to set up a specialized ‘IOS Global Council for Youth Development’ in Chennai.

2. It is resolved that Chennai Chapter shall draw a plan to approach regional institutions and policy planners to muster support for augmenting interaction with marginalised groups to study their issues and problems within their specific context. Collaboration with other societies to carry out these activities should be a priority.

3. It is resolved that Chennai Chapter should also establish viable linkages with other regional chapters of IOS and try to create coordination with each other.

4. It was resolved that effort should be made to involve the political, social and cultural segments of Tamil Nadu for creating awareness about the plight of Muslim youth and other marginalised sections of society.

5. It is resolved to request the government to make quality education at higher levels affordable to weaker and marginalised sections of societies as it has become expensive and beyond their reach.

6. It is resolved that special efforts be made to initiate programmes of soft and life skills development among youth at all desirable levels. A close contact with state government in these areas will be aimed at.

7. It is resolved that efforts be made to include ethical and moral value systems in the school and college curricula.

8. It is resolved to request the Tamil Nadu government to protect and promote all minority languages in the state.

9. It is resolved that IOS sets up a separate fund to support Muslim youth who appears for IAS, IPS and other central and state services.

10. It is resolved to make a survey of the Muslim youth and their family members who had undergone physical and mental agony during their incarceration in prisons for several years. Efforts should be made to take suitable measures for their rehabilitation.

11. This conference appeals to the Muslim community to pay maximum attention in bringing up and character building of their children in Islamic perspective and also guide them in the selection of their career.
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CHALLENGES BEFORE YOUTH IN CONTEMPORARY WORLD

2011-12-09T17:57:00.001+05:30

CHALLENGES BEFORE YOUTH IN CONTEMPORARY WORLD

By V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

The subject “Challenges Before Youth in Contemporary World” given by the Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) for the two day international Seminar on 10th and 11th December 2011 in Chennai is an important one.

As the IOS’s Concept Note says, about 1/5th of the total world population are youth and our country India has about 243 million youth in the age group of 15-19 and it will cross over 300 million if the upper age limit is extended to 24 years. We can imagine the strength of the Muslim youth in the country although their exact figure is not available to us. Muslims are the second largest community in India estimated to be about 15% and so the Muslim youth will be around 45 million here. Our role in every field of national activity is vital for unity, development and prosperity of the country and we have been doing that in our own way despite many hurdles and discriminations.

The 2002 Gujarat riots and some other inhuman atrocities perpetrated on the minorities are of course a big blot on our country’s beautiful secular image. The judicial verdicts, which have been pronounced recently in the Gujarat cases, though delayed, have exposed the culprits to the nation and the world. The governments at the Centre and in the States should pay heed to them and take strong remedial measures to keep communal forces at check, severely punish the guilty and compensate or rehabilitate the victims of the riots and cleanse the politics of the country from anti national and criminal elements.

The world particularly our country has been discussing issues like drug abuse, violence, linguistic chauvinism, religious extremism etc. which are faced by the youth. Besides these, there is also degradation in moral values of the people in general and the youth in particular. It has become difficult for the youth to be safe from harmful entertainments before them – ugly and obscene dance, uncultured and brute music, free flow of alcohol etc. Almost every house has a TV either bought or given by the government as a free gift for voting it to power in states like Tamil Nadu. One feels that it is mostly misused and good educational and national programmes are seen only by a few interested people. The paper reports say that students are the worst sufferers in the TV mania to which people are addicted.

In this scenario the community has the responsibility to save the youth from going astray. Parents, teachers, social activists and the society as a whole has to be alert and train the children properly in accordance with Islamic thoughts and values.

The old adage that a man is known by the company he keeps is right. The youth will suffer if they are not in good company. There is a saying of Prophet Mohammed (sal-am) that “Arrajulu ala deeni khaleelihee falyenzur ahadukum man yukhalilu” – It means that a man follows his friend and so each of you should be careful who you befriend.

The youth are the backbone of a nation and it is they who have to shape its destiny. Prophet Mohammed (sal-am) has said that he was supported by the young and poor and rejected by the old and rich. It is also a fact that most of the revolutionaries were youngsters and forces of change for better.

An ideal person gives importance to spirituality, moral values such as righteousness, honesty, humility and endeavours to practise them in life. The holy Quran says:

53:39 That man can have nothing but what he strives for:

Wa an laysa lil insane illa ma saAAa

The Muslim youth are not in any jungle. They are in the glare of the fast changing world. A majority of Muslims are poor. They have to depend on others for survival. The main reason for erosion of traditional systems and institutions is due to lack of joint efforts by ulema and intellectuals to find solutions by ijtihad to the problems faced by them. The community and the nation can be safe only if they are on the right track discharging their responsibilities well.

The Muslim youth as others are confronted with the deafening noise of individualism, materialism, atheism, selfishness, disregard for family bonds etc. They are in a fix. They need best possible counseling. Muslim organizations have to give right guidance to them in the light of the holy Quran and Hadees for their and the country’s bright future.

We are in a secular, plural and democratic country. The globalization has many plus points. Muslims have also started learning the importance of better modern education and are sending their boys and girls to science and arts, engineering and medical colleges for studies and quite a large number of Muslim youth are working in BPOs, Call Centres and IT companies where merit counts and there is no room for corruption, nepotism or communalism and it should be appreciated by us. Mostly young boys and girls belonging to different faiths work together in these companies and so problems crop up sometimes. We see some people going astray. It has therefore become a must for the Muslim community to create an Islamic atmosphere more than ever before in their families, mohallas and institutions so that their identity as a disciplined Islamic community remains intact.

The Muslim community is passing through a difficult period facing many problems such as dowry demands, lavish marriage expenses, increase in divorce incidents etc. If ulema and umara in the jamaats enact necessary norms for marriage and other functions and try to follow and implement them, things can change for better. They are the powerful people in the society and hence they are expected to practise Islamic austerity, simplicity and dignity before giving sermons.

As far as Muslim youth are concerned, they are mostly confused and in a dilemma in the present world over some other issues also like taking bank loans, doing bank service, getting higher education, birth control, participation in functions like Deepavalli and birth day celebrations, maslaki controversies, controversial fatwas etc. Apart from these, ugly display of wealth by the rich without any concern for the poor living in pathetic conditions in slums also shock them. Undoubtedly the rich and the poor do not see eye to eye with each other as the bond of Islamic fraternity which kept them together without any big differences seems to be on the wane now. They seem to have become two different castes. I remember having read a report somewhere that one of the causes for the severe infightings witnessed in Pakistan is due to the widening gap between the rich and the poor.

The tragedy of the community is that while Islamic scholars are hesitant in taking suitable actions on some issues like triple talaq which according to all schools of thought is an undesirable and condemnable act, some so called liberal Muslims, brought up in an un-Islamic atmosphere but interested in Islam, are almost waging a war for changes in the Shariat laws as per their understandings without any regard for the respected scholars who enjoy the confidence of the people and are considered the pillars of the society. It is not that the demand for changes on certain issues is altogether wrong in the present changed times. But the way they present their arguments is somewhat worrisome. It must be clear to us that nobody will be able to do anything without the support of Islamic scholars. Moreover the demands should also be in accordance with the holy Quran and Hadees. There is need for us to see what the Shariat says and why and not to change it as per our whims and fancies. The print and visual media are bent upon tarnishing the image of the Muslim community and Islam today. Hence both ulema and moderate Muslims should be cautious in echoing the affairs of the community to the press.

Even Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal had said that the claim of Muslim liberals to re-interpret the legal principles in the light of their own experience and the altered conditions of modern life is perfectly justified. He regretted for not recognizing the modernity of the Quran.

Hence the need of the hour is to bring these two sections of the Muslim community together for finding solutions to the problems in the light of the holy Quran and Hadees.

Islamic institutions like Darul Uloom, Deoband and Nadwathul Ulema, Lucknow can come forward to join hands with different Muslim organizations and institutions and find solutions to the social, cultural and religious problems confronting the community and work for its onward march in the national affairs.

Let us have some community consciousness. Allama Iqbal says: “Mubtalaye dard koi azu ho roti hai aakh, Kis qadar hamdard sare jism ki hoti hai aakh” – As our eye weeps and shows sympathy when any part of our body is in pain, we should feel the pain of the suffering people and go to their rescue. It is what Islam teaches and wants us to do. There is a hadees of Prophet Mohammed (sal-am) that “ Laa yoominu ahadukum haththa yuhibbu leeakheehi maa yuhibbu linaffsihi” – Nobody from you will be a complete Muslim until he is in a position to like for his brother what he likes for himself.

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Institute of Objective Studies (IOS) Silver Jubilee Celebrations

2011-12-09T14:49:00.000+05:30

A two day seminar on "Challenges before youth in contemporary world" is to be held on Saturday and Sunday, 10th and 11th December 2011 at the New College, Chennai.

Dr. Mohamed Manzoor Alam, Chairman, IOS and other national and international dignitaries, educationists and social activists participate.

We wish the seminar all the best.

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET - ARRIVALS LIMITED

2011-12-09T06:57:00.000+05:30

CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

Arrivals of tanned goat skins continue to be limited in the Chennai leather market and exporters are finding it difficult to cover their requirements. As prices of raw skins are ruling high everywhere in the country, many small tanners have either curtailed or stopped their productions. There is also a financial crunch in the market and payments are delayed very much.

It is learnt that tanned goat skins Run selection is sold at around Rs.60, All Suede at around Rs.55 and Suede selection lot (up to Heel grip) at around Rs. 48 per sq. ft. Many exporters of leather and leather products are very much interested in these higher selections but prices vary depending on quality, selection and the need of the buyer. There is also a continued demand for Lining selections A/B/C at around Rs. 41/40/39 per sq. ft. Local Rejections are sold at around Rs. 32 per sq. ft.

Wet blue cow hides Run is sold at around Rs.85 and middle selections combined at around Rs.55 per sq. ft. and some reputed tanners fetch even higher prices in centres like Erode. Vaniyambadi tanners are supplying items like Sheep Nappa, Suede and Linings to exporters of leather products at different almost unchanged prices.

While some big tanners and exporters are having good orders for various items of finished leathers, small exporters say that “at present new business is difficult as prices are not coming”. Overseas customers do not seem to be as enthusiastic as before for business now. They want reduction in prices for continuity of business.

Recent offers of exporters are at around the following prices:

S/C OR F/C GOAT LEATHERS

Material Size/sq. ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F

Goat upper leather 3/5 or 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC 2.50

Goat milled leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm E 2.00

Goat suede leather 3/5 or 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.30/1.80/1.60

Goat lining leather

4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 1.60/1.50/1.40

6/9 0.6/0.8 mm TR-1/2/3 1.65/1.55/1.45

Goat lining leather lot 3/9 0.5 up mm Stock lot 1.10

F/C SHEEP LEATHERS

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq.ft. C&F

Sheep Suede/Cabretta leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.50/2.00/1.50

Sheep Suede/cabretta leather 6/9 0.8/1.00 mm ABC/D/E 2.75/2.25/1.75

Sheep lining leather 3/5 or 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 combined 1.60

There is no report of any big business in the market and it seems that only some patchy business have taken place. There are also delays in shipment due to limited availability of raw skins. Imports of raw skins from some Arab countries like Egypt are also meagre due to internal problems in those countries. Even imports from countries like Switzerland have been affected due to unworkable prices quoted by exporters in Dollar and Euro and their higher exchange rates in Rupees. There are indications from some sources that the stiff competition existing in the market will ease as foreign customers are slow in their activities.

An exporter told me that Chinese and Pakistani exporters are posing a great threat to Indian exporters by offering their products at comparatively lower prices as higher exchange rates and incentives are available to them.
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FREE IAS COACHING AT HAJ HOUSE, MUMBAI

2011-12-07T17:27:00.001+05:30

The Haj Committee of India provides free coaching & guidance for young MUSLIM Graduates. This year we are working in close coordination with a welknown professional coaching class of Pune. Hope it will enhance our results. Though we have representative candidates from Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra, and U.P. But there are still quite a few vacant seats. We are therefore holding an Entrance Test and Personal Interview on Monday 19 December 2011. Muslim Graduates from any faculty may apply. Details are given on our website: www.hajcommittee.com

Haj Committee of India

Haj House, 7-A, M.R.A. Marg, Mumbai-400001.

Phone No:-022-22612969 Fax No:-022-22620920

IAS COACHING FOR MUSLIMS

For Muslim Graduates free coaching for Civil

Services examination (Preliminary and Main ) is

Provided at Haj House, Mumbai

Additional Entrance Test & Interview on

Monday, 19 December 2011.at Mumbai

Reporting Time 09.30 a.m. Details available on our website: www.hajcommittee.com

-- --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~--~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~----~----~----~1. The views/opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the group owners/moderators. 2. This group is for Indians and of Indians who take pride in India's secular and multi-cultural ethos. All of us are followers of Islam as preached and practised by the Last Messenger, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him). 3. This is a family group. Comments made herein are meant exclusively for the group members. Honourable members are, therefore, requested not to forward personal comments in this group to any third party/non-member, unless you have taken permission from the member. 4. Getting out of this group is easy. Just send a blank email to nrindians+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~-----~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~----~----~----~

THE TRENDS OF THE CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET

2011-11-12T21:56:00.000+05:30

CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

There is good demand for all items of hides and skins in Chennai leather market as in all other centres in the country and even abroad. Exporters of leather and leather products such as leather shoes, garments and goods are concentrating very much in procuring raw hides and skins as their availability both at home and abroad are limited. Almost all tanneries and shoe factories in Tamil Nadu particularly in places like Chennai, Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Ranipet and Mel Visharam are functioning well as they are able to get orders from different importing countries like Italy, U.K., Germany, U.S.A. etc. But the fact remains that most of them are not getting the workable prices at the present time when prices of not only raw hides and skins but also chemicals and other items have gone up considerably and even labour charges are on the increase. Many exporters have no option except to have regular business with their customers even at unworkable levels due to the pressure of their banks for regular export documents for negotiation.

It is learnt that some exporters have sold their S/C and F/C 3/5 and 4/6 sq. ft. goat upper and lining leathers at around US $2.00 and 1.50 per sq. ft. C&F. Hong Kong and Singapore customers mostly show interest for these leathers and regular business is taking place. However there is no report of any big business. The shortage of raw hides and skins is the main cause for this. Even big exporters are not interested in selling bulk quantities as they do not know what is in store for them as far as supplies of raw hides and skins are concerned. Many small tanners and exporters have either stopped or curtailed their production due to the present difficult situation.

The offers made by some tanners recently in higher grades of upper leathers were at around US$2.50 per sq. ft. C&F. Some overseas customers buy this item regularly from some top class tanners and exporters. It is also learnt that some shoe factories offered a particular type of their shoes at around Euro 18 to 20.

Recent offers of exporters have been at around the following prices:

GOAT LEATHERS

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F

Goat upper leather 3/5 0.6/0.8 mm ABC 2.50

Goat suede leather 3/5 and 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.10/1.80/1.60

Goat lining leather 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 1.60/1.50/1.40

SHEEP LEATHERS

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq.ft. C&F

Sheep suede/cabretta leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.50/2.00/1.50

Sheep Suede/cabretta leather 6/9 0.8/1.00 mm ABC/D/E 2.75/2.25/1.75

Sheep lining leather 3/5 and 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 combined 1.60

In all the raw hides and skins centres in the country, prices are ruling high and unchanged. Even in Erode cow hides are in good demand as many exporters need this item and operate there. But it is felt that the present situation will not continue for long.

Exporters of leather and shoes show interest for tanned and wet blue goat skins at different prices depending on the quality and selection. These items continue to be in good demand. High quality ABC suedes are sold at around Rs. 58/60, Linings at around Rs.40/- and Lots (goods consisting of different selections) at around Rs. 50/- Financial crunch seems to be everywhere in the industry. Many exporters are forced to get support from small investors in purchasing wet blue and tanned skins from the market for cash. (Indian Leather, November 2011) -------------------------------------------------

EID UL AZHA MUBARAK.

2011-11-06T20:26:00.001+05:30

Eid-ul-Azha: A festival of selflessness and devotion

By V. M. Khaleelur Rahman

The festival Id-ul-Azha, popularly known as Bakrid, is celebrated on the tenth day of Zul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, in memory of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (Alaihis salam -AS) who is said to have lived about 4500 years ago. He was an embodiment of selfless sacrifice and deep devotion to Allah. Once dreamt as if commanded by God, he was ready even to sacrifice his only son Hazrat Ismail (Ishmael) who was also all the more willing to give up his life as per Divine order. But it was stopped as it was not what God wanted but he was only tested for his faithfulness and forbearance. In this connection the holy Quran says in its inimitable expression that it is not the "flesh and blood" that reach God but the devotion one has for Him.

The most important aspect, associated with this festival, is the Haj pilgrimage to Makkah. It is one of the five "pillars" of Islam. The others being belief in God, prayer - five times a day, fasting during the month of Ramadan and compulsory payment of 2.5% called "Zakath"on one’s assets to the poor and needy. It was Prophet Ibrahim (AS) who built the "sacred refuge" of Makkah-based Kaba, "the first House of worship, full of blessings and guidance for all mankind " and "Pilgrimage thereto once in one’s life is a duty people who can afford it owe to God"– i.e. if one is physically and financially sound - according to Islamic yardsticks.

The sacred "Zamzam" water which Haj pilgrims fondly drink and bring home for distribution among relatives and friends is from the place where a divine miracle had happened. It is recorded that when Hazrat Hajira (Hagar), wife of Prophet Ibrahim (AS) and her infant son Ismail were taken to a rocky and barren valley in Makkah to settle down there, her son grew very thirsty. There was no sign of water anywhere in that vast uncultivable area. She did not know what to do and ran desperately helter-skelter seven times praying to God between two hillocks, Safa and Marwah, in search of water to quench her son’s thirst. Suddenly a spring of fresh water came gushing miraculously under his feet to her utter surprise. The pilgrims perform what is called "Saee" remembering this divine mercy by walking briskly seven times between Safa and Marwah – a distance of about 500 metres,

The Islamic equality and brotherhood of mankind is manifest in the mammoth gathering of more than two million Haj pilgrims, drawn from different parts of the world, irrespective of their colour, creed or country, joining together at a place, men in a white unstitched "uniform" of two pieces of cloth called "Ihram" and women with a head-cover and usual dress, doing "tawaf" (circumambulation) and praying to Almighty God with absolute devotion and wishing for world peace and prosperity. This spectacular annual assembly of Haj pilgrims, full of piety and Divine wisdom, is of great significance.

The holy Quran says: "O People! Behold, we have created you all out of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes only for the sake of identification and knowing one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is pious and God-fearing"( Al-Hujurat 49:13). It also says that "God does not love the proud ones" and Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am)’s warning is that "he who has a grain of pride in his/her heart will not enter heaven."

If the purpose of religion being love is properly understood and followed, we can get a just world order wherein one can live, develop and prosper happily in an atmosphere free from fear, oppression and exploitation and also make the other world hereafter, called "Aakhirah", a paradise. A Haji – one who returns after Haj pilgrimage – is expected to be as innocent as a child without enemies from within such as envy, greed, ill-will etc. and lead a life getting the pleasure of God.
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JUSTICE M. KATJU, CHAIRMAN, PRESS COUNCIL OF INDIA INTERACTS WITH MEDIA PERSONS

2011-10-24T07:30:00.001+05:30

http://www.thehindu.com/news/resources/article2555281.ece

Justice Katju interacts with mediapersons

This is the text of the speech delivered by Hon'ble Mr. Justice M. Katju, Chairman, Press Council of India, to the mediapersons on their responsibility at a get together at his home in New Delhi on October 10, 2011.

Friends,

I wish to thank you all for accepting my invitation for this get together and for coming here.

As you know, I have only recently become the Chairman of the Press Council of India. It is a new job for me as I was earlier in the legal world for 40 years, 20 years as a lawyer and 20 years as a Judge.

Now, that I have come into your world I need your guidance, advice and suggestions so that I may be able to perform my duties properly.

I have arranged this get together of media people because I think that the time has now come in this country when some introspection is required by the media. Many people, not only those in authority but even ordinary people, have started saying that the media has become irresponsible, wayward and needs to be reined in.

Only a couple of days back I read in the newspapers that the Union Government has issued some regulations regarding licences for news channels, about which there was a lot of reaction.

Under the Constitution of India freedom of the media is part of the freedom of speech guaranteed by Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution. However, no freedom can be absolute, and reasonable restrictions can be placed on them. One of the basic tasks of the media is to provide truthful and objective information to the people which will enable them to form rational opinions, which is a sine qua non in a democracy. But is the Indian media performing this role properly?

I may only mention certain defects in the functioning of the Indian media today:

(i)The media often twist facts. In this connection, I would like to give an example.

I sat for several months with Hon'ble Mrs. Justice Gyan Sudha Misra in a Bench of the Supreme Court. One day, a leading English newspaper of the country published on its front page a photograph of Hon'ble Justice Misra with the caption "Supreme Court Judge says that her daughters are liabilities".

This was a totally distorted and fallacious news and that too published in the front page of a leading English newspaper.

The correct facts were that Supreme Court Judges have to disclose their assets and liabilities. Against the liabilities column Justice Misra wrote 'two daughters to be married'. Strictly speaking it was not necessary to mention this because liabilities means legal liabilities e.g. housing loan, car loan, etc. However, the intention of Justice Misra was obviously to say that she had to spend a lot of money in her daughters' future marriage. She has three daughters (no son) only one of whom has been married and two are yet to be married. Justice Misra never said nor intended to say that her daughters were liabilities, and the news published was totally false and defamatory with the obvious intention of creating a sensation.

This publication was of tremendous embarrassment and grief not only to Justice Misra but also to members of her family. Did the publisher of this news items ever think how much pain and embarrassment it would cause to Justice Misra and her family? Obviously not. All that the publisher of that news sought was to create a sensation by twisting the correct facts.

Even if Justice Misra had made a mistake in writing " two daughters to be married" against the column of liabilities, should the media have cashed in on this mistake and totally distorted it without realizing how much pain it was causing to some people? I ask the media people assembled here today to themselves introspect and seek the answer.

(ii)The issue of paid news has become prominent of late. In the 2009 elections, it was a scandal. How to stop this vicious practice needs to be discussed among us. Incidentally, in compliance with the order of the Chief Information Commissioner dated 19.9.2011, we have placed the 71-page report of the Committee consisting of Shri Paranjoy Guha Thakurta and Mr. Sreenivas Reddy on our website www.presscouncil.nic.in with the disclaimer that the Press Council had rejected this report in its meeting held on 26.4.2010. .

(iii)The media often portrays non issues as real issues while the real issues are sidelined. The real issues in the country are economic, that is the terrible economic conditions in which 80% of our people are living, the poverty, unemployment, lack of housing and medical care etc. Instead of addressing these real issues, the media often tries to divert the attention of the people to non-issues, such as that the wife of a film actor has become pregnant, whether that lady will give birth to a single child or to twins etc. Are these the real issues facing the nation?

In the Lakme India Fashion Week event, there were 512 accredited journalists covering the event in which models were displaying cotton garments, while the men and women who grew that cotton were killing themselves at a distance of an hour's flight from Nagpur in the Vidharbha region. Nobody told that story except one or two journalists, locally.

Is this a responsible way for the Indian media to function? Should the media turn a Nelson's eye to the harsh economic realities facing over 75 per cent of our people, and concentrate on some 'Potemkin villages' where all is glamour and show biz? Are not the Indian media behaving much like Queen Marie Antoinette, who said that if the people had no bread, they should eat cake.

No doubt, sometimes the media mentions farmers' suicides, the rise in the price of essential commodities, and so on, but such coverage is at most 5 to 10 per cent of the total. The bulk of the coverage goes to showing the life of film stars, pop music, fashion parades, cricket and astrology.

(iv)Bomb blasts have taken place near the Delhi High Court, in Bombay, Bangalore etc. Within a few hours of such bomb blasts many T V channels started showing news item that Indian Mujahidin or Jaish-e-Mohammed or Harkatul-jihad-e-islam have sent e-mails or SMS claiming responsibility. The names of such alleged organizations will always be Muslim names. Now an e-mail can be sent by any mischievous person, but by showing this on TV channels and next day in the newspapers the tendency is to brand all Muslims in the country as terrorists and bomb throwers.

The truth is that 99% people of all communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh and of whatever caste or region are good. But the manner in which such news is shown on TV screens and published in the newspapers tend to create the impression that all Muslims are terrorists, and evil, which is totally false. The person who sends such e-mails or SMS obviously wants to create hatred between Hindu and Muslims, which is the old British divide and rule policy continuing even today. Should the media, wittingly or unwittingly, become part of this policy of divide and rule?

I have only referred to some of the defects in the Indian media. No doubt there are defects not only in the media but in other institutions also e.g. the judiciary, bureaucracy etc. but all of us must try to remove these defects.

There are two ways of removing these defects in the media. One is the democratic way, that is by discussions, consultations and persuasion, which is the method I prefer. The other way is by using harsh measures against the media e.g. by imposing heavy fines on the defaulters, stopping Government advertisements for them, suspending their licence etc.

In my opinion, in a democracy, we should first try the first method for rectifying the defects, namely the democratic method. It is for this purpose that I have decided to have regular get togethers with the media, including the electronic media, so that we can all introspect and ourselves find out ways and means of rectifying the defects in the media, rather than this being done by some government authority or external agency.

For this purpose, I propose to have such get togethers, like the one as we are having today, every two or three months, in which we will discuss issues relating to the media and try to think how we can improve the performance of the media so that it may win the respect and confidence of the people of the country.

Such meetings will not be formal meetings of the Press Council of India but only informal get togethers. No doubt, the electronic media is not under the Press Council of India Act, but surely there is nothing wrong in discussing matters relating to media with them also. After all, the ultimate purpose of the print media and the electronic media is the same, and journalistic ethics apply to both.

No doubt, if the media proves incorrigible, harsh measures may be required, but in my opinion that should be resorted to only as a last resort and in extreme situations. Ordinarily, we should first try to resolve the issues by discussion, consultation and self-regulation. That is the approach which should be ordinarily first tried in a democracy. I, therefore, respectfully request the Union Government to kindly defer implementation of its recent decision regarding the news channel license, so that we can ourselves discuss the issue thoroughly and ourselves take corrective measures in this connection.

Till now the function of the Press Council was only adjudication. I intend to make the Press Council an instrument of mediation in addition, which is in my opinion the democratic approach. For this purpose, I need the help and co-operation and advice of all of you.

Presently, India is passing through a transitional period in its history, the transition being from feudal agricultural society to modern industrial society. This is a very painful and agonizing period in history. If you have read the history of Europe from the 16{+t}{+h} to the 19{+t}{+h} Centuries, which was the transitional period there, you will find that this period was accompanied by tremendous turbulence, turmoil, wars, revolutions, social churning, chaos, intellectual ferment etc. It was only after going through this fire that modern society emerged in Europe. Presently, India is going through this fire. We are going through a very painful period in our history, which I think will last for another 20 years or so before modern industrial society emerges in India.

The media too must help society in going through this transitional period as quickly as possible, and by reducing the pain. This, it can do by attacking feudal ideas e.g. casteism and communalism and promoting modern scientific ideas.

Before I conclude, I once again repeat my appeal to the Indian Government through the Prime Minister to release Dr. Khalil Chisty who is in Ajmer Jail. He is 80 years old and has not very long to live. He was an eminent virologist in Karachi Medical College and was a Ph.D from Edinburgh University. He is a heart patient and has many other ailments also. He is unable to walk. In the name of humanity I appeal to the Indian Government to release him and allow him to get back to home in Karachi to his wife and daughter who live there. The Pakistan Government honoured my appeal and released Gopal Das from a Pakistani Jail. I am sad that the Indian Government has not yet honoured my appeal made several months ago to the Hon'ble Prime Minister, the Hon'ble Home Minister, and His Excellency the Governor of Rajasthan. In my opinion, the prestige of our country will be increased if Dr. Chisty is released, whereas if he dies in jail, we will be disgraced.

I now wish all of you to give your views.

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1. The views/opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the group owners/moderators.

2. This group is for Indians and of Indians who take pride in India's secular and multi-cultural ethos. All of us are followers of Islam as preached and practised by the Last Messenger, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

3. This is a family group. Comments made herein are meant exclusively for the group members. Honourable members are, therefore, requested not to forward personal comments in this group to any third party/non-member, unless you have taken permission from the member.

4. Getting out of this group is easy. Just send a blank email to nrindians+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
-~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~-----~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~----~----~----~

SIR SYED AHMED KHAN: HIS LIFE AND CONTRIBUTION

2011-10-16T14:53:00.000+05:30

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL

SIR SYED AHMED KHAN: HIS LIFE AND CONTRIBUTION

BY AZHAR MOHAMMED K, CHENNAI

INTRODUCTION

Sir Syed Ahmed Khan (1817-1898) was a great visionary, statesman and Muslim reformer of the 19th century, the like of whom is rare. He wanted to make the community and country progressive and take them forward on modern lines. His supreme interest was intellectual development of the people through modern education. He was the first Indian Muslim to contribute to the intellectual and institutional foundation of Muslim modernization in Southern Asia. Interest of community and country was dearer to him rather than anything else. He was successful in making the Muslims understand the importance of modern education and endeavour their best to achieve it in order to stand on their own legs and live a dignified life in accordance with Islamic thoughts.

Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal says :

‘’Mubtalaayay dard koi azu ho roti hai aankh

Kis qadar hamdard saray jism ki hoti hai aankh’’

(The eye weeps for the suffering of any and every part of the body,

How sympathetic it is to the entire organism)

To the Muslim community Sir Syed Ahmed Khan was and is like the eye which weeps for the suffering of any and every part of the body. The sufferings of the community worried him. He took an oath to reform, educate and empower the Muslim community and was successful to a great extent in implementing it despite strong opposition from a section of the Muslim community which hated the British and their language. Today we can see the products of the Aligarh Muslim University adoring in every field of activity in India and neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh. They have earned a name for the community and country, thanks to the Aligarh movement.

Sir Syed’s educational caravan reached everywhere including Tamil Nadu from where I hail. It inspired and encouraged people to take to modern education by establishing educational institutions.

HIS BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD

Sir Syed was born on 17 October 1817 in Delhi. His family was highly regarded by the Mughal dynasty. His maternal grandfather Khwajah Farid was a ‘wazir’ (minister) in the court of Akbar Shah II. His paternal grandfather Syed Hadi held a ‘mansab’ of the title of Jawwad Ali Khan in the court of Alamgir II. Syed Ahmed’s father, Mir Muttaqi was also close to Akbar Shah but rejected the position and titles offered to him due to his interest in mysticism. Perhaps he abhorred the way the materialistic world functioned. He died when Syed Ahmed was about 21 years of age. Mother, Azizunnissa Begum was, however, a strong willed woman of clearly defined principles. She showed extraordinary interest in the education, character building and upbringing of her son. She was a strict and God fearing lady.

HIS EDUCATION

Sir Syed received his education under the old system prevailing at that time. He learnt to read the holy Quran under a female teacher at his home. After this, Maulvi Hamidud Din, became his private tutor. He completed a course in Persian and Arabic, and later took to the study of mathematics, which was a favourite subject of the maternal side of his family. He later took interest in medicine and studied some well-known books on the subject. At the age of 19 his formal education came to an end but he continued his studies privately. He started taking a keen interest in the literary gatherings and cultural activities of the city.

The passing away of his father left the family in financial difficulties, and after a limited education he had no option but to work for his livelihood. Starting as a clerk with the East India Company in 1938, he qualified three years later as a sub-judge and served in the judicial department at various places.

HIS VISION

The supreme interest of Sir Syed’s life was education in its widest sense. He wanted to create a scientific temperament among the Muslims of India and to make the modern knowledge of Science available to them. He championed the cause of modern education at a time when all the Indians in general and Indian Muslims in particular considered it a sin to get modern education and that too through English language. He began establishing schools, at Muradabad in 1858 and Ghazipur in 1863. A more ambitious undertaking was the foundation of the Scientific Society, which published translations of many educational texts and issued a bilingual journal in Urdu and English. It was for the use of all citizens and were jointly operated by the Hindus and Muslims. In the late 1860s there occurred some developments that were challenges to his activities. In 1867 he was transferred to Benares, a city on the Ganges with great religious significance for Hindus. At about the same time a movement started at Benares to replace Urdu, the language spoken by the Muslims, with Hindi. This movement and the attempts to substitute Hindi for Urdu publications of the Scientific Society convinced Syed that he should do something. Thus during a visit to England (1869-70) he prepared plans for a great educational institution. They were "a Muslim Cambridge." On his return he set up a committee for the purpose and also started an influential journal, Tahzib al-Akhlaq "Social Reform" for the uplift and reforms of the Muslims. A Muslim school was established at Aligarh in May 1875, and after his retirement in 1876, Sir Syed dedicated himself to make it a college. In January 1877 the Viceroy laid the foundation stone of the college. In spite of opposition to Syed’s projects, the college made rapid progress. In 1886 Syed organised the All-India Mohammadan Educational Conference, which met annually at different places to promote education and to provide the Muslims with a common platform. Syed advised the Muslims against joining active politics and to concentrate instead on education. Muslims generally followed his advice and abstained from politics. This advice is applicable even today. We have to concentrate our attention more on education for the uplift of the backward Muslim community. Many reports have clearly noted that the Muslims are educationally and economically more backward.

Throughout his life Syed Ahmed Khan showed concern with how Indian Muslims could adapt to intellectual and political change accompanying Western rule. His first mission became reinterpretation of Muslim ideology so as to reconcile tradition with Western education and science. He argued in several books on Islam that the holy Quran rested on a deep appreciation of reason and natural law and therefore did not preclude Muslim involvement in scientific methodology. These themes, mixed with a call for Muslim education, regularly appeared in his journals, the Mohammedan Social Reformer and the Aligarh Institute Gazette.

Syed Ahmed's ideas became institutionalized despite criticism from theologians. In 1862 he formed a scientific society, and 13 years later he assisted in establishing the Mohammadan Anglo-Oriental College, which prospered and became the key intellectual center for Indian Muslims - The Aligarh Muslim University. The success of the college was largely due to his leadership and a curriculum embodying both Western and Oriental studies.

HIS CONTRIBUTION

Sir Syed’s contributions for the betterment and empowerment of the Muslims are great. His position in the judicial department left him time to be active in many fields. His career as an author in Urdu started at the age of 23. In 1847 he brought out an important book "Monuments of the Great" on the antiquities of Delhi. Even more important was his pamphlet "The Causes of the Indian Revolt". His interest in religion was also active and lifelong. He wrote on the Life of Prophet Muhammad (Sal-am) and devoted himself to write several volumes of a modernist commentary on the holy Quran. In these works he explained how the Islamic faith could go with progressive scientific and political ideas of his time.

HIS LITERARY WORKS

Sir Syed was a government civil servant and s scholar. The 1857 revolt was a turning point in his life. The following are his important works:

1) ‘’ASARUS SANADEED’’: It is an archaeological masterpiece providing a wealth of information on countless historical monuments in Delhi from the eight hundred long Muslim rule. This book was published in 1847.

2) ‘‘ASBAB-E-BAGHAWAT-E-HIND’’- (The causes of Indian Revolt) This book was published in 1859 after the 1857 revolt after witnessing the atrocities committed by the British on the inhabitants of Delhi. He saw an uncle, a cousin and an aunt dying before his eyes. He saved his mother but she died due to privations she had experienced. Muslims were the main targets of the government’s wrath.

3) THE ALIGARH INSTITUTE GAZETTE - It was an organ of the Scientific Society started in 1866. It made the people think and use their wisdom.

4) ‘’TEHZIB-UL-AKHLAQ’’ – It succeeded in making people realise the value of modern knowledge. It also gave new directions to Muslim social and political thoughts.

HIS GOLDEN SAYINGS

1) Sons (of MAO college later AMU)) shall go forth throughout the length and breath of the land to preach the message of free inquiry, of large-hearted toleration and of pure morality.

1. Acquisition of knowledge of science and technology is the only solution for the problems of Muslims.

2. Call me by whatever names you like. I will not ask you for my salvation. But please take pity of your children. Do something for them (send them to the school), lest you should have to repent (by not sending them)

3. We will remain humiliated and rejected if we do not make progress’’ (in scientific field)

4. Get rid of old and useless rituals. These rituals hinder human progress.

5. Superstition cannot be the part of Iman (faith).

6. The first requisite for the progress of a nation is the brotherhood and unity amongst sections of the society.

7. Yes the main purpose of this college (MAO) is to impart modern education to Muslims who are suffering because of lack of it but this institution is for all, Hindus and Muslims alike. Both of them need education.

8. We (Hindus and Muslims) eat the same crop, drink water from the same rivers and breathe the same air. As a matter of fact Hindus and Muslims are the two eyes of the beautiful bride that is Hindustan. Weakness of any one of them will spoil the beauty of the bride (dulhan)

9. We (Hindus and Muslim) have evolved a new language Urdu

10. I wish that youth of India should follow the example of young men and women of England who are religiously engaged in the hard work of industrial development of their country” (During the stay of Sir Syed in England).

11. Look forward, learn modern knowledge, and do not waste time in studies of old subjects of no value.

12. Ijtihad (innovation, re-interpretation with the changing times) is the need of the hour. Give up taqlid (copying and following old values).

13. Do not show the face of Islam to others; instead show your face as the follower of true Islam representing character, knowledge, tolerance and piety.

14. We should not (by remaining ignorant and illiterate) tarnish the image of our able elders.

15. All human beings are our brother and sisters. Working for their welfare is obligatory for Muslims.

16. Remember that the words Hindu and Muslim are only meant for religious distinction: otherwise all persons who reside in this country belong to one and the same nation.

HIS ACHIEVEMENTS

Sir Syed's greatest achievement was his Aligarh Movement, which was nothing but an educational venture. He established schools at Muradabad in 1859 and Ghazipur in 1863. He also founded a scientific society in 1864. When Sir Syed was posted at Aligarh in 1867, he started the Muhammadan Anglo-Oriental School in the city. During his visit to England in 1869, he studied the British educational system and appreciated it.

Sir Syed wanted MAO College to act as a bridge between the old and the new systems. His famous quote is that ‘’a true Muslims is one who must have the holy Quran in one hand and the science in the other’’. Today we can see the Aligarh Muslim University offering different courses like Medical, Engineering, Science, Arts, Management, Languages etc.

Sir Syed’s aim was not just to establish a college at Aligarh but he was interested in spreading education and empowerment among the people by establishing educational institutions in every nook and corner of the country. He, therefore, started an organisation called ‘’All India Muslim Educational Conference’’to achieve this goal. It motivated the Muslims to open a number of educational institutions in India.

Although the Indian Muslim community has made some good progress in the educational arena, still they have to go a long way to achieve the goal that Sir Syed visualised. Only the vision and enthusiasm of Sir Syed can help us - Muslims to improve our educational and economic conditions further. It is,therefore, incumbent for us to revive the Aligarh movement once again to make the people understand the value of modern education fully.

I take this opportunity to request the Vice-Chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University to start a movement and come to the rescue of the suffering Muslim community in India. There is no point in blaming others. One feels that the main cause for our backwardness is lack of education. Education alone in the present context can empower us and nothing else. We can create a modern Islamic society only by taking Muslims to modern professional education like medical, engineering, teaching, management etc. No options or short cuts at all. God has given the eyes to see and mind to analyse. We must see what is happening around us and use our intellect to arrive at a conclusion. This is what Allah wants us to do. There is no point in toeing an outdated concept and blaming fate for every misery. Dr. Allama Mohammed Iqbal’s call should be taken seriously and march forward. He has said beautifully in the couplet which we read and hear quite often sometimes it echoes even in the Parliament but we do not give serious thought to it.

Khudi ko kar buland itna ki har taqdeer say pahlay,

Khuda banday say khud poochay bata teri raza kya hai

(Raise your position so much that God himself may ask you ‘’tell me what is it that you want?’’). It echoes the holy Quranic strong dictate that we should endeavour to achieve his rewards. In short we must develop a scientific temper among the people as the holy Quran says in different verses. We are mainly responsible for backwardness.

Sir Syed also brought out a journal ‘Tehzibul Akhlaq’ and succeeded in infusing a new desire amongst Muslims for acquiring modern knowledge.

Sir Syed finally reached to the conclusion that lack of education was the main cause of the backwardness of the community.

Sir Syed became successful in his mission and gave a firm foundation of Aligarh College (Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College) which afterwards became Aligarh Muslim University by an act of the government. It is meant for all- Muslims as well as non-Muslim students. All live and study here in a friendly and peaceful atmosphere. It has got a rich cultural heritage, which is its special and inimitable one.

The intellectuals produced in large numbers by Aligarh Muslim University served and continue to serve the country in various capacities. The first graduate of this University was the great revolutionary Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh. The late Dr. Zakir Hussain, former President of India and Dr. Syed Mahmood were also Aligarh educated dignitaries. The university has produced innumerable doctors, engineers, teachers, scientists, poets, writers, journalists, etc.

HIS EDUCATIONAL REVOLUTION

The Aligarh movement launched by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan influenced the Muslims in the country, particularly in South India. The Souvenir brought out on the occasion of the Centenary Celebration of Ambur Muslim Educational Society on 4th September 2006 mentions as follows inter-alia:

Sir Syed organised the Mohammedan (later Muslim) Educational Conference. Its branches were established in cities and towns to report on the educational needs of the community. This conference used to meet annually at several important cities in the country and carried the message of modern education far and wide.

The 5th session of the Conference was held at Madras in 1901 and set in a brainwave all over the South. Like their brethren in other parts of the country the Muslims of the Madras presidency were also antagonistic towards the English education and therefore they were far behind their other fellow countrymen in public service. Nawab Mohsinul Mulk Mohsinud Dowla from Aligarh inspired the Conference with the saga of adventure which Sir Syed has brought into being in the North.

On 16th December 1905 the Management of the Chowk Masjid madrasa which was in existence then was taken over and later re-named as Madrasa-e-Mazharul Uloom. Janab T.Abdullah sahib visited Aligarh, observed the educational developments there and inspired by it prepared a plan for a Muslim school in Ambur meant for all religions and communities without any discrimination whatsoever. It was primarily his aim to create for young Muslims a good institution for their educational, cultural and social developments.

Many educational institutions came up in Tamil Nadu as a result of the Aligarh movement. Today by the grace of Allah there are 11 (eleven) full fledged engineering colleges and hundreds of Science and Arts Colleges, Higher Secondary and Elementary Schools in difference parts of Tamil Nadu. Many Muslim organisations like All India Islamic Foundation, Sadaq Trust, The South India Education Trust, The Muslim Educational Association of Southern India, Ambur Muslim Educational Society, Vaniyambadi Muslim Educational Society etc. have been playing a very important role in establishing institutions and imparting modern education to Muslims and non-Muslims alike.

HIS RATIONAL APPROACH

Muslims were in the forefront in the struggle for freedom. They suffered a lot. Many Ulema (religious scholars) were hanged in Delhi and other places. Sir Syed was worried. He was of the view that Muslims should not be so vigorous in opposing the British at their own cost and ignore everything including education and government placements.

Sir Syed wanted Muslims to have friendship with the British if they want to take their due rights. He quoted the examples of other religious communities benefiting from the government. While he tried his best to convince the British that Muslims were not against them, he persuaded the Muslims repeatedly to befriend the British to achieve their goals. He also wrote many books and published journals to remove the misunderstanding between Muslims and the British by writing booklets like "Loyal Muhammadans of India" and "Cause of Indian Revolt". Sir Syed asked the Muslims of his time not to participate in politics unless and until they got modern education. He was of the view that Muslims could not succeed in the field of Western politics without knowing the system. He was invited to attend the first session of the Indian National Congress and to join the organization but he refused to accept the offer. He gave importance to the education of the Muslim community and succeeded in it. His institutions such as the College and the Muslim Educational Conference continued to influence intellectuals till this day and will continue to do so in the years to come unhindered.

CONCLUSION

1) Dr. Allama Iqbal:

‘’The real greatness of the man (Sir Syed) consists in the fact that he was the first Indian Muslim who felt the need of a fresh orientation of Islam and worked for it’’

2) Pandit Jawaharlal Nehruji:

‘’Sir Syed was an ardent reformer and he wanted to reconcile modern scientific thought with religion by rationalistic interpretations and not by attacking basic belief. He was anxious to push new education. He was in no way communally separatist. Repeatedly he emphasized that religious differences should have no political and national significance.’’

3) Mr. Inder Kumar Gujralji

‘’Sir Syed’s vision and his laborious efforts to meet the demands of challenging times are highly commendable. The dark post 1857 era was indeed hopeless and only men like Raja Mohan Roy and Sir Syed could penetrate through its thick veil to visualize the Nation’s destinies. They rightly believed that the past had its merits and its legacies were valuable but it was the future that a society was called upon to cope with.

I offer my homage to Sir Syed for his vision and courage that withstood all obstructions both from the friends and the foes.’’

This great visionary and reformer, Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, whose relevance is felt even today and who will always remain green in our memory inspiring wise thoughts and absolute principles in the right Islamic thinking passed away after a brief illness on 27th March 1898 and was buried the next day in the compound of the mosque in the College. May his soul continue to live in peace.
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Tiger Pataudi: First Among India's Great Captains

2011-09-24T06:56:00.001+05:30

http://cricket.yahoo.com/blogs/article-tiger-pataudi-first-of-india-s-great-captains_15765

Tiger Pataudi: First Among India's Great Captains - By AR Hemant

‘Tiger’, as Mansur Ali Khan Patuadi was often called, was the son of Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, who had the distinction of playing Test cricket for England and India.

Born into royalty, Mansur Ali Khan was the ninth and final Nawab of Pataudi, a princely state which merged into India in 1947.

Cricket was in the family. Pataudi Senior made a hundred on Test debut for England before his playing days prematurely ended when he opposed his captain Douglas Jardine’s tactics in the 1932 Bodyline series. He later captained India before he passed away on his son’s 11th birthday in 1952.

It is said Pataudi Senior had asked bat-makers Gunn and Moore to manufacture a small-sized bat for his son, who was five at the time. Gunn and Moore didn't make bats for kids, but they agreed to make a special one for the boy who would be India's youngest Test captain at the age of 21.

India’s Finest Captain

Pataudi, an Oxford alumnus, went on to play 46 Tests for India, and was captain in 40. This makes him and Iftikhar the only father-and-son duo to captain India.

Pataudi in action for Oxford against Surrey, June 1961.

He is widely recognised as one of the finest tacticians of his time, a trait which helped bring spin bowling to the forefront of India’s gradual rise to the top. It was under him that India registered their first Test series win abroad, in New Zealand in 1968, by a 3-1 margin. India have never won three Tests in an away series since.

Pataudi realised spin was India’s strength and he built upon it. He’d often play three spinners in the side. This is best reflected in the fact that Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna and S Venkataraghavan all had better averages and strike-rates under Pataudi.

Attacking Style

Pataudi was an attacking batsman. After his schooling in Dehradun, he went to Winchester College, where he made over 2,000 runs in a season. It helped him that his coach George Cox was also an aggressive stroke-maker and encouraged Pataudi’s style of play.

At a time when keeping the ball along the ground was batsmen's mantra, Pataudi loved his lofted drives. His reflexes were sharp and his fielding quick-silver.

In 1960, he made 131 for Sussex against Cambridge at Lord’s. He was Oxford’s captain the next year, becoming the first Indian to receive the honour. This is the time he was involved in a car accident near Brighton beach and lost vision in his right eye.

Describing his post-accident style of play, Author Dean P. Hayes wrote: “As a result of the injury, he preferred a two-eyed stance. His backlift was therefore from the direction of third man, but the bat in the downward swing passed close to the right leg with elbows tucked in, thereby eliminating any chance of gap between bat and pad. In spite of two eyed stance, his off-side play remained a delight, because he quickly positioned himself for the strokes.”

Once asked by a journalist about how he played with one eye, Pataudi said, "I see two balls. I hit the one on the inside." Experts often wonder what he could have achieved as a batsman had he not been impaired.

Successful Debut & Captaincy

He later made his Test debut against England in the Delhi Test of December 1961. In his third Test of the same series, he made an attacking 103 to round off a series win.

Pataudi in 1961.

In 1962, midway through the West Indies tour, captain Nari Contractor was famously felled by a bouncer and never played Tests again. Pataudi, in just his fourth Test, became captain. It was a tough tour for him, and he failed to cross 50 in six innings, and India lost all five Tests.

After a brief slump in form, he hit the high notes again by making his highest Test score — 203 not out in Delhi — when England visited in 1964.

His finest innings is said to be the 75 he made in Brisbane in 1968, coming out to bat on a green-top with India 25-5. He had a hamstring injury which impeded his front-foot play and this innings is thus recalled as the one played with one eye and one leg.

Differences with the then chairman of selectors, Vijay Merchant, and India’s historic wins in the West Indies and England in 1971, brought Ajit Wadekar’s captaincy to the forefront. But following the ‘Summer of 42’ disaster in England in 1974, Wadekar was forced out, and Pataudi returned to lead the team again.

Pataudi played his last Test in 1975 — as captain — and made 9 and 9 against the West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium, a game India lost and surrendered a tightly-fought series 2-3.

He also won the Arjuna Award on 1964 and Padma Shri in 1967.

After Cricket

Pataudi worked as an ICC match referee and sports columnist. In 1974-75 he was India's manager. He also dabbled in politics. Earlier this year, he parted ways with the Indian Premier League and sued the BCCI over non-payment of dues.

The only major controversy he courted was in 2005 when he was arrested for killing an endangered animal.

Pataudi, 70, breathed his last today at a New Delhi hospital after a prolonged infection of his lungs. He is survived by wife, former actress Sharmila Tagore, son Saif Ali Khan, and daughters Soha and Saba

Fw: [The Quran Foundation] Advice to Husbands

2011-09-17T07:00:00.002+05:30

Subject: Advice to Husbands

By getting married you are not just getting a wife, you are getting your whole world. From now until the rest of your days your wife will be your partner, your companion, and your best friend. She will share your moments, your days, and your years. She will share your joys and sorrows, your successes and failures, your dreams and your fears. When you are ill, she will take the best care of you; when you need help, she will do all she can for you; when you have a secret, she will keep it; when you need advice, she will give you the best advice. She will always be with you: when you wake up in the morning the first thing your eyes will see will be her; during the day, she will be with you, if for a moment she is not with you by her physical body, she will be thinking of you, praying for you with all her heart, mind, and soul; when you go to sleep at night, the last thing your eyes will see will be her; and when you are asleep you will still see her in your dreams. In short, she will be your whole world and you will be her whole world.

The best description that I personally have ever read describing the closeness of the spouses to each other is the Quranic verse which says: "they are your garments and you are their garments" Indeed, spouses are like garments to each other because they provide one another with the protection, the comfort, the cover, the support, and the adornment that garments provide to humans. Just imagine a journey in the winter of Alaska without garments! Our spouses provide us with the same level of comfort, protection, cover, and support in the journey of our lives on this earth as garments would do in the Alaska journey.

The relationship between the spouses is the most amazing of all human relations: the amount of love and affection, intimacy and closeness, mercy and compassion, peace and tranquility that fills the hearts of the spouses is simply inexplicable. The only rational explanation for these most amazing of all human feelings is that: it is an act of Allah Al Mighty. Only Allah Al Mighty in His infinite power, boundless mercy, and great wisdom can create and ingrain these amazing feelings in the hearts of the spouses. In fact Allah Al Mighty is reminding those who search for His signs in the universe that these feelings in the hearts of the spouses are among the signs that should guide humans to His existence as He says in the Quran," And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves that you may dwell in tranquility with them and He has put love and mercy between your hearts: verily in that are signs for those who reflect"

But the human heart is not a static entity, it is very dynamic. Feelings can and do change with time. Love may wither and fade away. The marital bond might weaken if not properly cared for. Happiness in marriage cannot be taken for granted; continuous happiness requires constant giving from both sides. For the tree of marital love to remain alive and keep growing, the soil has to be sustained, maintained, and nurtured. Remember that our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had found the time to go out to the desert and race with his wife Aisha. She outstripped him but later after she had gained some weight, he outstripped her.

The show of emotions is necessary to keep the marital bond away from rusting and disintegrating. Remember that you will be rewarded by Allah Al Mighty for any emotions you show to your wife as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said "one would be rewarded for anything that he does seeking the pleasure of Allah Al Mighty even the food that he puts in the mouth of his wife" Never underestimate the importance of seemingly little things as putting food in your wife's mouth, opening the car's door for her, etc.

Remember that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to extend his knee to his wife to help her ride her camel...Try to always find some time for both of you to pray together. Strengthening the bond between you and Allah Al Mighty is the best guarantee that your own marital bond would always remain strong. Having peace with Allah Al Mighty will always result in having more peace at home. Remember that the Prophet (peace be upon him) gave glad tidings for those couples who wake up at night to pray together. The Prophet (peace be upon him)even urged the spouse who rises up first to wake the other spouse up even by throwing cold water on his/her face.

Always try your best to be be good to your wife by words and by deeds. Talk to her, smile to her, seek her advice, ask for her opinion, spend quality time with her and always remember that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said "the best of you are those who are best to their wives" Finally, it is common that spouses vow to love and honor their spouses until death do them part. I do believe that this vow is good or even great, but not enough! It is not enough that you love your wife. You have to love what she loves as well. Her family, her loved ones must also become your loved ones. Don't be like my colleague who was unhappy about his wife's parents coming to visit for a few weeks. He candidly said to her "I don't like your parents" Naturally she angrily looked at him straight in the eye and said "I don't like yours either"... Also, it is not enough that you love her until death do you part. Love should never end and we do believe there is life after death where those who did righteousness in this world will be joined by their spouses and offspring. The best example in this regard is the Prophet (peace be upon him) whose love to Khadija his wife of 25 years extended to include all those she loved and continued even after her death. It was many years after her death and he never forgot her and whenever a goat was slaughtered in his house he would send parts of it to Khadija's friends and whenever he felt that the visitor on the door might be Khadija's sister Hala, he would pray saying "O Allah let it be Hala"

--
*Jazakum Allah Khair*
*The Qur'an Foundation.*

CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET

2011-09-07T06:37:00.000+05:30

CHENNAI LEATHER MARKET

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

Chennai leather market was somewhat slow in operations during the month of August 2011 due to seasonal holidays at home and annual holidays abroad but prices continue to be unchanged.

Almost all exporters of leather and shoes are interested in tanned as well as wet blue goat skins at unchanged prices. In fact there is demand for all varieties of leather – goat, sheep, cow hides, buffalo hides, etc. Their prices are also ruling high in all leather centres like Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Dindigul and Trichy as demand continues for leathers from all quarters.

There are reports of tanners selling their good quality tanned goat skins 3/5 and 4/7 sq.ft. Run, Suede and A Lining grades at around Rs.65, 55 and 35 per sq.ft. respectively and 4/7 All Suede at around Rs.50/- per sq.ft. There is also demand for lower grades like Rejection which is sold at around Rs.25/- per sq.ft.

Generally speaking raw goat skins are sold at more than Rs.150/- per piece in different centres in the country and for some better quality and selection raw skins prices are much higher.

EXPORT ORDERS

Overseas customers have requirements for goat upper and lining leathers, sheep suede and cabretta leathers, cow upper and lining leathers etc. at the prevailing prices. However due to annual holidays export business was “patchy” during the last month but exporters offered at unchanged or slightly increased prices as indications given below:

1. Quotations of goat upper, suede and lining leathers

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq. ft. C&F

Goat upper leather 3/5 and 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.50/1.75/1.55

Goat suede leather 3/5 and 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.00/1.60/1.50

Goat lining leather 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 combined 1.30

2. Quotations of sheep leathers

Material Size/sq.ft. Substance Selection Price US$ per sq.ft. C&F

Sheep suede/cabretta leather 4/7 0.6/0.8 mm ABC/D/E 2.50/2.00/1.50

Sheep Suede/cabretta leather 6/9 0.8/1.00 mm ABC/D/E 2.75/2.25/1.75

Sheep lining leather 3/5 and 4/7 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 1.50

Almost all shoe manufacturers are doing well having orders from different sources but they are finding it difficult to cover their raw skins requirements as their availability is limited and demand is more in the raw centres throughout the country. Even imports of raw hides and skins are costly and unworkable to exporters here. The present situation is something unseen before in the leather market. There are also reports of delay in shipment by some exporters due to difficulties in procuring raw materials.

(Indian Leather, September 2011)

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SERVICE TO HUMANITY - REAL HAPPINESS OF EID

2011-08-29T18:22:00.001+05:30

SERVICE TO HUMANITY - REAL HAPPINESS OF EID

By V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

Eid-ul-Fitr or Ramadan Eid is celebrated as a day of thanksgiving to God after successful completion of the month-long fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and on sighting the crescent moon of the 10th month called Shawwal. Ramadan is meant for fasting, worship and charity, and also for self-introspection for the purpose of purification of one's soul and body by giving up bad and attaining good things. The Holy Quran says, "Fasting is prescribed to you as it was to those before you so that you may learn self-restraint." Fasting brings people together and creates a sense of camaraderie among them. It inculcates in them righteous conduct, to be good people and brotherhood of man by eradicating evils such as anger, greed and malice.

Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) has said, "Do not belittle even the smallest act of kindness even if it is no more than meeting your neighbour with a smiling and cheerful face. We should not consider any charity small or not worth doing. Charity, big or small, should be given in a pleasant manner without hurting the feeling of its receivers and with the thought that we are only discharging a religious duty from the wealth God has given us." According to Islam even our day-to-day acts, like being kind to others at home and outside, are charity and it makes a big difference in our relations with them.

Once when Prophet Mohammed (Sal-am) was on his way to Idgah for Id prayers, he saw a poor boy about five-years-old sitting on the pavement sadly. He went near him and asked, "Why are you alone here, my dear boy?" The boy started weeping and said, "I am an orphan with nobody to care for me." The Prophet could not bear the pathetic words of the poor boy and consoled him saying, "From now on you can look to me as your father and Ayesha as your mother," and returned home with him. When his wife Ayesha fed him and dressed him well for Id prayers the Prophet lifted him on his shoulders and said, "Ayesha, this is the happiest Id for me. I experience true happiness at the happiness of this little orphan boy." He was a great benefactor of humanity and his mission right from the beginning to end was to see that every individual maintained his self-respect free from any sort of slavery.

The miracle that was Mother Teresa

2011-08-26T09:26:00.001+05:30

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/article2397132.ece#.TlbadHFyMJw.email

Grab opportunities on merit - DIG Mr. Sanjay Kumar

2011-08-18T06:31:00.000+05:30

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Latest List of Tamil Nadu Ministers

2011-08-14T13:39:00.000+05:30

Council of Ministers

Selvi J Jayalalithaa

Chief Minister

Public, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Forest Service, General Administration, District Revenue Officers, Police, Home.

Thiru O. Panneerselvam

Minister for Finance

Finance, Planning, Legislative Assembly, Elections and Passports.

Thiru K.A. Sengottaiyan

Minister for Agriculture

Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Agro Service Cooperatives, Horticulture, Sugarcane Cess, Sugarcane Development and Waste Land Development.

Thiru. Natham R. Viswanathan

Minister for Electricity and Prohibition and Excise

Electricity,Non-Conventional Energy Development, Prohibition and Excise, Molasses.

Thiru K.P. Munusamy

Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development

Municipal Administration, Rural Development, Panchayats and Panchayat Unions, Poverty Alleviation Programmes, Rural Indebtedness, Urban and Rural Water Supply.

Thiru C. Shanmugavelu

Minister for Rural Industries

Rural Industries including Cottage Industries and Small Industries.

Thiru R. Vaithilingam

Minister for Housing and Urban Development

Housing, Rural Housing and Housing Development, Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control, Town Planning, Urban Development and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority

Thiru Agri S.S Krishnamoorthy

Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration

Commercial Taxes and Registration and Stamp Act

Thiru C. Karuppasamy

Minister

Thiru P Palaniappan

Minister for Higher Education

Higher Education including Technical Education, Electronics, Science and Technology.

Thiru C.Ve Shanmugam

Minister for School Education, Sports and Youth Welfare

School Education and Archaeology, Sports and Youth Welfare.

Thiru Sellur K Raju

Minister for Cooperation

Cooperation, Statistics and Ex-Servicemen Welfare

Thiru K.T Pachamal

Minister for Forests

Forests and Cinchona.

Thiru Edappadi K Palaniswami

Minister for Highways & Minor Ports

Highways and Minor Ports.

Thiru S.P Shanmuganathan

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE), Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture.

Thiru K.V Ramalingam

Minister for Public Works

Public Works , Irrigation including Minor Irrigation, Programme Works

Thiru S.P Velumani

Minister for Industries

Industries, Steel Control, Mines and Minerals, and Special Initiatives

Thiru T.K.M Chinnayya

Minister for Environment

Environment and Pollution Control

Thiru M.C Sampath

Minister for Special Programme Implementation

Implementation of Special Programmes including implemenation of the Election manifesto.

Thiru P. Thangamani

Minister for Revenue

Revenue, District Revenue Establishment, Deputy Collectors, Weights and Measures, Debt Relief including legislation on Money lending, Chits, Registration of Companies.

Thiru G. Senthamizhan

Minister for Information, Law, Courts and Prisons

Information and Publicity, Film Technology and Cinematograph Act, Stationery and Printing and Government Press, Law, Courts and Prisons, Personnel and Administrative Reforms and Prevention of Corruption

Thiru P. Chendur Pandian

Minister for Khadi and Village Industries

Khadi and Village Industries Board, Bhoothan and Gramadhan.

Tmt S Gokula Indira

Minister for Tourism

Tourism, Tourism Development Corporation.

Tmt Selvi Ramajayam

Minister for Social Welfare

Social Welfare including Women's and Children's Welfare, Nutritious Noon Meal, Orphanages and Correctional Administration, Integrated Child Development and Beggar Homes, Welfare of the Differently abled and Social Reforms.

Thiru B.V Ramanaa

Minister for Handlooms and Textiles

Handlooms and Textiles

Thiru R.B Udhayakumar

Minister for Information Technology

Information Technology

Thiru N Subramanian

Minister for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare

Adi Dravidar Welfare, Hill Tribes and Bonded Labour.

Thiru V Senthil Balaji

Minister for Transport

Transport, Nationalised Transport, Motor Vehicles Act.

Thiru K.A Jayapal

Minister for Fisheries

Fisheries and Fisheries Development Corporation

Thiru Budhichandhiran

Minister for Food

Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Protection and Price Control.

Thiru S.T Chellapandian

Minister for Labour

Labour, Population, Employment and Training, Newsprint Control, Census and Urban and Rural Employment.

Dr. V.S Vijay

Minister for Health

Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare.

Thiru N.R Sivapathi

Minister for Animal Husbandry

Animal Husbandry, Milk and Dairy Development.

Thiru A Mohammedjan

Minister for Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare

Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities, Overseas Indians, Refugees & Evacuees and Minorities including Wakf.

INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION?

2011-08-08T03:44:00.001+05:30

The Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/special-report/AARAK-SHUN/articleshow/9512625.cms

AARAK SHUN

Shobhan SaxenaShobhan Saxena, TNN
Aug 7, 2011, 05.09AM IST

AIIMSA knock on the door always makes Amit nervous. If it is daytime, he quickly moves the book rack so that it hides the framed photo of B R Ambedkar, dressed in a dark suit and looking at some distant horizon. If it's night, Amit lies still in bed, staring at the fan. As the banging goes on, he slips in and out of sleep. In his dreams he often sees a boy putting a noose around his neck. Sometimes he sees the boy hanging from a rope that's furiously twisting by itself. Then there is dead silence. He can't go back to sleep.

Amit, a student of IIT-Kanpur, is not suicidal. He has been to a shrink, though, and says he lives in some kind of dread. For two years, life on the campus was beautiful - at least until the day his classmates found out his caste, a fact he had masked with a caste-neutral surname. The Ambedkar photo had already made some "friends" suspicious, and when a clerk in the scholarship section "exposed" his caste, Amit's world changed. He lost his place on the dining table. The batchmates became hostile: jibes in the classroom or an accidental jab in the ribcage every now and then became a common occurrence. And the midnight knocks started. "They don't want me to study. People may think it's a seat of high learning but for me it's living hell," says Amit, who has a brilliant academic record. "People here don't believe in merit. They will push you if you perform better than them," adds the final-year student who is too scared to give his real name.

Amit is not paranoid. His fear is real. In 2008, the year he joined the institute, a fellow student called Prashant Kureel was found hanging in his room. In 2009, an MTech student, G Suman, killed himself. And in 2010, Madhuri Salve, a final-year student, used her dupatta to hang herself from the ceiling fan. All three were dalits and IIT authorities were quick to blame academic pressure for these deaths. "It's because of constant ragging and brazen casteism on the campus that my son killed himself," says Sunder Lal Kureel, the father of Prashant, as he continues his fight for justice.

But in this battle, Sunder Lal is alone. There are no middle class-led candlelight vigils at India Gate for Prashant. There are no campaigns by TV channels, just the lonely battle of a broken man. There are many like Sunder Lal in their peculiar tragedy. Since 2007, 18 dalit students pursuing engineering and medical courses in the country's top institutes, including the IITs and All India Institute of Medical Sciences, have committed suicide. And here's the real shocker: only one of them, Jaspreet Singh of Government Medical College, Chandigarh, left behind a suicide note. None of the others who hanged themselves or jumped from a building blamed anyone for pushing them to take the extreme step. "All of them had complained to their families about harassment at the hands of faculty and fellow students, yet they didn't leave a suicide note. Only Jaspreet's was there because his father found his body. We wonder what happened to all the other suicide notes," says Ratnesh Kumar of Insight Foundation, which is trying to get justice for the families. "We're sure the notes vanished because the victims had accused the authorities of harassment."

Hidden in these missing notes are the dirty secrets of India's top institutes, where dalits have been treated as outcastes ever since reservations were introduced for SC and ST students in the 1950s. Nobody likes to talk about this dark side. Now, as filmmaker Prakash Jha takes a "fresh look at the issue" with his Aarakshan, the dalits fear that the film may reinforce old biases. "We get only 15% seats, while the OBCs get 27%. But, it's the dalits who have to face the brunt of hate campaigns," says Surya Dev, a 25-year-old engineer from Guna, MP, who now works with the Insight Foundation helpline.

Ironically, anti-dalit sentiment erupted in 1991, when the V P Singh government decided to implement 27% reservation for OBCs. In the Capital's "Left-leaning" university, JNU, caste clashes took place between students; in the dining-halls of IIT-Delhi, dalits were forced to sit on separate tables, and the walls of urinals in Delhi University were covered with puerile graffiti. And the authorities just watched. "The atmosphere in our institutions is very brahminical as the upper castes dominate the faculty. In such an environment, the lower caste students automatically become outcastes," says Dilip Mandal, who teaches at Delhi's Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC).

Many dalits have paid a price for being what they are. In 2008, Narendra Divekar and Nitin Kamble, who worked as cameramen at the Centre for Distance Engineering Education Programme at IIT Bombay, took part in a meeting of the institute's union for backward classes. A torrent of casteist abuses from the centre's web coordinator, Rahul Deshmukh, followed almost immediately. Deshmukh told them that they were "not fit to work here". A complaint was made to IIT authorities and the police. But the abuse went on. Unable to handle it, the duo tried to commit suicide outside Deshmukh's office.

Many, however, have fought back. Dr Ajay Singh, who joined AIIMS in 2002 with the same marks as the cut-off for "general" students, was the only dalit in his hostel wing. He was barred from entering the carrom-board room and one day someone scrawled "Nobody likes you here. F**k off" on his door. But Dr Singh fought back and that led to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appointing a three-member committee, headed by University Grants Commission chairman Sukhdeo Thorat, to look into caste harassment in the country's top medical institutes. The report was shocking: dalit students were bullied into vacating their hostel rooms, leading to a ghetto being formed on two floors of a hostel; they were specifically targeted during ragging; they were not allowed to play cricket and basketball; they were not allowed to eat in the "upper-caste mess"; and the teachers ignored them in class, sometimes deliberately failing them in exams. Shamed by the damning report, AIIMS took some remedial steps. "Now the hostels are allotted through a lottery system and general harassment has come down a bit, but all the recommendations of the panel are yet to be implemented," says Dr Singh, who now works with a government hospital in Delhi.

But resistance is growing on some campuses. "Now the number of upper-caste and reserved category students is almost the same. It's not easy to bully them," says Mandal of IIMC. And dalits are now not prepared to be shunned by the system. "We started celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti on our campus to unite us," says Manju Kumari Rao, 28, a former student of Benaras Hindu University who was once denied permission to go abroad on an exchange programme because she was dalit. "We don't want to join the system, we want to change it."

(Additional reporting by Anahita Mukherji)

We are relieved Bangladesh is not with Pakistan anymore - Tahmima Anam

2011-08-07T10:18:00.001+05:30

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/all-that-matters/Were-relieved-Bangladesh-isnt-with-Pakistan-anymore/articleshow/9511000.cms

'We're relieved Bangladesh isn't with Pakistan anymore'

Shobhan SaxenaShobhan Saxena, TNN
Aug 7, 2011, 12.38AM IST

A Golden AgeIn 2008, Bangladeshi writer Tahmima Anam , 36, talks about Islam, Bangladesh and its love-hate relationship with both India and Pakistan.In 2008, Bangladeshi writer Tahmima Anam , 36, won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for her first novel A Golden Age, a stunning book that laid bare the gulf between East and West Pakistan during the 1971 war. In her second book, The Good Muslim, the London-based author returns to the period 40 years after Bangladesh won its independence to say that debates on Islamic fundamentalism are not just held in the western and Muslim worlds, but exist within Islam as well. In an interview with Shobhan Saxena , the Harvard-trained anthropologist talks about Islam, Bangladesh and its love-hate relationship with both India and Pakistan. Excerpts:

The title of the book suggests that there is something called a good Muslim. Who is a good Muslim?

The book is not supposed to answer this question; it's supposed to ask this question. The novel is meant to raise some questions in the reader's mind: who is a good Muslim? Is it the religious character? Is it the secular character? Or is it the mother who is caught between the two? I suppose that my aim was to show that these debates are happening between Muslim communities as well as between Muslim communities and the outside world. There are contestations of meaning and moralities - what it means to be a person of faith and to be a good person.

The backdrop of both your novels has been the 1971 war. Are Bangladeshis still talking about that war?

Yes, absolutely. I am a Bangladeshi writer and that's the most important thing that has happened and affected the world that still exists. This book is about the shadow of the war and about the people living in the wake of a great event. It's about the people who survive it - what happens to them; how they lead the rest of their lives knowing that they have lived through such a horrific time. For me, as a novelist, war is wonderful - it's like a stage where so many things happen, so many relationships change, and there is so much drama and trauma. There is love too. When I talk to people about the war, they don't say 'I fought this battle or that battle'; they say 'I went to the village for the first time and I fell in love'. You know the stories are very human. So I was attracted to that period.

So it's part of the imagination of your generation too - the people born and brought up after the war was over...

Definitely. It takes a big place in public imagination in Bangladesh - people of all generations whether they lived through it or not. There is a film called Guerrilla that released recently. It's a story of the war and shows all aspects of it - basically about the young men who formed the urban resistance. It's been playing to packed houses for three months and a lot of young people are going to see it because it's the first time they have seen this kind of cinematic depiction of what they have heard from their parents and read in books. There hasn't been a kind of closure to that event.

In 1971, India was seen as liberator of Bangladesh, but not anymore. What has gone wrong in these 40 years?

Well, there was a lot of goodwill after 1971. Indira Gandhi played a major role in our independence. Sonia Gandhi was in Dhaka last week and Indira Gandhi was given a big award. So there is still a lot of goodwill and a sense of indebtedness to India, to Indira Gandhi. Obviously, the relationship has had its ups and downs since then and there are many reasons for that. It's hard to be surrounded on three sides by a much bigger economic superpower. But there is a lot of potential for a relationship with a lot of mutual respect and understanding.

Recently, PM Manmohan Singh said something to the effect that many Bangladeshis support fundamentalism.

There is a mixed feeling about India. India can look at Bangladesh as its Muslim neighbour who doesn't have the problems of Pakistan - a Muslim neighbour that has nothing to do with ISI or fundamentalism and terrorism. The present government has done a lot in uprooting terrorism. India needs to acknowledge that and give Bangladesh its due. So, negative statements set the relationship back. People feel there goes India again - to bully us.

What kind of books do you read? Any favourite writers?

American writer Tony Morrison is my favourite. I also like a lot of contemporary Pakistani writers. I think the most exciting writing coming out of anywhere in the world is from Pakistan. Writers like Daniyal Muennedin, Mohammad Hanif and Nadim Aslam are writing excellent stuff. Indian writing in English is old now and a new generation of writers is coming up now from Pakistan, and hopefully, from Bangladesh. Maybe it's because of the many conflicts in that country. It's also because of the moment - it's Pakistan's moment on the world literary map.

There is a perception that Pakistan's at war with itself and may be falling apart. How do people in Bangladesh see what's happening in Pakistan?

We are all very happy that we are not part of Pakistan anymore. So there is a sense of relief. But because there is a feeling of Muslim countries being besieged by these stereotypes, there is a sense of camaraderie with other Muslim countries as well. And since Pakistan is one country which is most similar to ours, there is long-standing affection for Pakistan. Bangladeshis just adore the Pakistani cricket team. There is this kind of relationship but also the feeling that we didn't really belong together. It was a relationship that was doomed to fail.

AMBUR OPEN LEATHER EXHIBITION - AN IMPORTANT LEATHER INDUSTRY EVENT

2011-08-03T19:26:00.000+05:30

AMBUR OPEN – AN IMPORTANT LEATHER INDUSTRY EVENT

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

The second edition of “Ambur Open” exhibition organized by Indian Shoe Federation (ISF) and Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA) on 9th and 10th of July 2011 at the magnificent Ambur Trade Centre, Ambur was highly successful according to many exhibitors and visitors. They felt that the exhibition being held as a permanent feature near the footwear hub of Ambur covering the entire area of Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Ranipet, Vellore, etc. is the right decision by the organizers. However the fact remains that it was possible as the result of the modern and majestic “Ambur Trade Centre” constructed in Ambur with the initiative taken by Ambur Economic Development Organisation (Aedol). The exhibition is recognized as an important leather industry event in our country. There was appreciation for the exhibition from the trade and industry as a whole.

Mr. M. Mohamed Hashim, Chairman, KH Group was happy about the organizational capacity of ISF, IFCOMA, Amburtec and other associations and stressed the need for being pro-active to garner a large piece of the global cake and investing substantially in the tanning sector to implement modernization schemes, improve productivity, rationalize labour policies, initiate excellence in designing skills and have more exporter friendly policies.

Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, Chairmain, Council for Leather Exports, emphasized the need for maintaining a very high degree of competitiveness, quality and service at all levels to reap the benefits in the global market which is a world of opportunities in the midst of complexities, challenges, risks and uncertainties.

Mr. Sanjay Gupta, President, Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association, was happy to see the success of the Ambur Open exhibition. He said: “Our objective has always been to reach the footwear hubs of India so that the interactions between the buyers and sellers could be effective and result oriented catering to the needs and requirements of the industry at large and attain the broader perspective of the business.

Mr. P.V. Gopalakrishna Bachi, President, Indian Shoe Federation, said: Ambur Open is here to stay and we have striven to give you all a truly enriching and world class event. The components industry walks hand and hand with the footwear industry to meet the global challenges and the exacting quality requirements to meet international standards as well as to increase India’s share in the exports basket.

While Mr. N. Mohamed Sayeed, Chairman, Amburtec and President, Ambur Tanners Association was happy that the fair was well organized and the response tremendous and fully booked in advance, Mr. V.P. Naimur Rahman, Chairman, Indian Finished Leather Manufacturers and Exporters Association considered it as an excellent fair of international class and said that “the visionaries who conceived it deserve all our encomiums for putting this region on the global fair map”

The manufacturers of footwear components and accessories, tanners and shoe manufacturers had good time in the fair in meeting one another, discussing business possibilities and entering into contracts. Many felt that there is need for more and more co-operation among them to carry on trade and industry well maintaining standard and quality in their products in the highly competitive domestic and world markets.

According to available information the state of Tamil Nadu plays an important part in the development of leather and leather products industry of our country India. It is in the forefront with about 750 tanneries and the raw material processed per day is 500-1000 tons and annual turnover is more than Rs.10,000 crore. Tamil Nadu also enjoys the reputation of having 16 CETPs catering to 630 tanneries, 94 ETPs and more than 56 RO plants. No tannery operates without access to any effluent treatment plant and 100% connectivity to pollution control devices is a speciality of Tamil Nadu, according to All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association.

These well established tanneries have contributed a lot in the establishment and development of 497 leather products units in Tamil Nadu producing about 59 million pairs of full shoes, 27 million pairs of shoe uppers, 7.1 million pieces of leather garments and 29.5 million pieces of leather goods.

The Ambur cluster has developed and is developing well adopting the progressive industrial policy of the government of India. The quality of various leathers and leather products produced in Tamil Nadu is of high standard and comparable with that of any advanced country. This is the reason why many world famous shoe giants like Fretz Men, Florsheim, Lumberjack, Gabor, Clarks, Hugo Boss and many others cover their requirements from here. The Ambur Open exhibition becoming a regular annual show at the Ambur Trade Centre – a symbol of industrial development in Tamil Nadu - is heartening to all. (Indian Leather, August 2011)

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The Return of Mr Akbar Owaisi and his thanks giving speech

2011-07-31T07:33:00.001+05:30

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: Pasha Patel <pashapatel74@gmail.com>
To: nrindians@googlegroups.com
Sent: Sun, 31 July, 2011 2:21:55 AM
Subject: [nrindians] The Return of Mr Akbar Owaisi

http://4tvtube.com/server/2011/07/news-at-400-30-7-2011/
The return to active political life by Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi, three months after the murderous attack on him, is nothing short of a divine miracle. It only reinforces and strengthens our faith in Allah, the Almighty. Mr Owaisi has himself acknowledged in his highly emotional first speech that he survived the deadly attack only because of the prayers of the hundreds of thousands of peace-loving Indians in general and Hyderabadis in particular.

On this happy occasion, we at NRIndians Group congratulate the entire Owaisi family and, in particular, Mr Akbar Owaisi's highly respectable uncle in Medina Mr Ahmed Owaisi and the honourable and popular MP of Hyderabad Barrister Asaduddin Owaisi.

Congratulations also to all those who stood on the side of peace and truth during these difficult moments. Alhamdulillah.
It must be said here and now that this not the time for recrimination. Now is the time for consolidation and reconciliation. It is the spirit of accommodation that should be the hallmark of Indian Muslims. Politics of revenge should not be promoted. Yes, the murderers should and must be punished and justice should not only be done but it should be seen to be done.

Do watch the entire video, the link for which was sent in by our honourable member Mr Aqil G. Mohammed, and pray for the well being of the First Family of the beloved city of Hyderabad. It is time for celebration and thanksgiving.

Pasha Patel
Owner and Moderator
nrindians@googlegroups.com

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1. The views/opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the group owners/moderators.

2. This group is for Indians and of Indians who take pride in India's secular and multi-cultural ethos. All of us are followers of Islam as preached and practised by the Last Messenger, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

3. This is a family group. Comments made herein are meant exclusively for the group members. Honourable members are, therefore, requested not to forward personal comments in this group to any third party/non-member, unless you have taken permission from the member.

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Fw: [nrindians] Deoband at the crossroads

2011-07-30T21:58:00.001+05:30

----- Forwarded Message ----
From: MB Qasmi <manager@markazulmaarif.org>
To: markazulmaarif@yahoogroups.com
Cc: nrindians@googlegroups.com; Sent: Sat, 30 July, 2011 2:24:22 PM
Subject: [nrindians] Deoband at the crossroads

http://dailypioneer.com/356911/Deoband-at-the-crossroads.html

OPED | Saturday, July 30, 2011 | Email | Print | | Back 

Deoband at the crossroads
July 29, 2011 11:08:03 PM

M Burhanuddin Qasmi

Was Maulana Vastanvi's removal only for his alleged pro-Modi remarks? Saturday Special presents evidence that there was more to it than meets the eye

Darul Uloom Deoband is much more than a mere madarsa. It is a pile of history, a movement, an ideology itself; and mother of thousands of madarsas in the Indian sub-continent. Deoband is India's pride, a heritage; and it is nobody's monopoly.  The power battle between Maulana Syed Arshad Madni and Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi should not shake Deoband.

Maulana Mohammad Qasim Nanautavi (1832-1879), the founder of Darul Uloom (house of knowledge) at Deoband, later on outlined the purpose of establishing the institution in the following words: "The English have perpetrated boundless acts of tyranny against the Muslims for their fault, if at all it was a fault, of the uprising in 1857 and their relentless endeavour for the independence of this country thereafter. They have left no stone unturned to plunder and obliterate the Islamic arts and sciences, Muslim culture and civilisation. Endowments of Muslim educational institutions have been confiscated and as a result state funded schools have been virtually closed. It is therefore necessary to adopt other methods instead of relying upon the old system of endowments."

Deoband believes in inclusive nationhood, promotes  patriotism and seeks equal justice. However, it is orthodox in following Islam in letter and spirit. After 1915, when Mohandas Gandhi returned from South Africa and with the help of the moderate group led by Ghokhale became president of the Indian National Congress, he formed an alliance with the Khilafat Movement and Deoband scholars-led Jamiatul Ansar - which later reformed as Jamiat Ulama-e Hind in 1919 to avoid a ban by the British Raj in 1913. 

Since then, the Deoband scholars have had a strong political bonding with the Congress and it continued as late as 1990s — before the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. During the pre-Independence era, when most 'modern' educated Muslims were trapped into the idea of nationhood based on religion — as articulated by Jinnah — Deoband scholars posed strong opposition. They unequivocally quoted from Islamic scriptures to prove that nationhood had nothing to do with religion. Rather,  it has as its basis the idea one's birthplace and the sense of homeliness. They proclaimed Hindus and Muslim are one nation (qaum) and debated vigorously for composite nationalism, thus rejecting Jinnah's two-nation theory.

The first political comments in January by the nascent vice-chancellor or mohtamim of Darul Uloom, the 'liberal' Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi, favouring Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would be a hard nut to digest for Deoband and her alumni; let alone giving a clean-cheat to Mr Modi or praising him. This author has also opposed his "statement" at that stage itself and it was printed in national newspapers. The basis of our opposition was that his statement angered Muslims across the globe. Moreover, in post-independent India, Deoband had shaped itself into an apolitical educational institute. The newly-appointed VC's amateurish media gimmick was quite uncalled for and caused unease in  academic circles. 

By July 23, our apprehensions got vindicated when the 'reformist' Maulana Vastanvi lost his battle in the face of some strong lobbying by Maulana Syed Arshad Madni and his supporters. Freedom of expression is a basic right in India — everybody knows it, but even iconic figures like Vastanvi should not have lost sight of the relationship between that right and responsibility. Maulana Vastanvi may have his personal likes and dislikes. But when he speaks as the Mohtamim of Darul Uloom Deoband, it mattered for many in India and abroad.

Nevertheless, it is a fact that there is more to Maulana Vastanvi's un-ceremonial removal from office than what meets the eye. His hurried dismissal was mired in a conspiracy by a certain interested class in Deoband and Delhi as the inflammatory coverage by certain Delhi-based Urdu newspapers following his appointment as Mohtamim of Darul Uloom bears out. Since the  Congress top brass have almost unchecked intimacy with Vastanvi's arch rival, Maulana Arshad Madni, the long-handedness of the Congress cannot be overlooked. It, obviously, would be in the interest of the ruling party to keep Darul Uloom as her usual support bastion by ousting a person who could challenge absolute hegemony at any point of time — not to forget poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

It is noteworthy that Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi was elected by the high-level committee (Majlish-e Shoora) as VC of Darul Uloom on January 10, 2011 by a majority, even though voting was not common trends in the previous occasions in the history of the institute. Out of 18 members, 14 were present, Vastanvi secured eight votes while four favoured Maulana Arshad Madni and two voted for Maulana Abdul Khaliq Madrasi. Till that day, Maulana Vastanvi and Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, Lok Sabha member and president of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF),  were on top of the Arshad Madni fraction of Jamiat Ulama-e Hind. 

Vastanvi's alleged Modi remark erupted just after his return from Deoband to Gujarat within days of his election. He was forced to call for an emergency meet of the Shoora committee on February 23. By then Maulana Ajmal was unconstitutionally sacked as president of the Assam State Jamiat by Maulana Arshad Madni — even though the State was election bound. Obviously it was an outburst against voting against the diktat. On February 23, the Shoora appointed a three-member sub-committee with Mufti Ismail of Malegaon as coordinator. Its term of reference was to investigate his alleged pro-Modi views with the context and submit a comprehensive report in the next Shoora meet.

To everyone's surprise, the next day Maulana Arshad Madni appeared before the media and mocked the Shoora decision. He announced: "He (Vastanvi) has got to go whether or not the  three-member committee's findings favour him." He further emphasised, "he has (already) gone" and that the formation of a fact-finding committee was only a formality. Isn't this evidence enough that the decision on Vastanvi was taken by an extra judicial party and that too before the matter was put up for trial? The three-member probe committee had found nothing conclusive against Vastanvi. It is no secret that two of the three members, including the coordinator, stood with Vastanvi till the last day. 

To say the least, no one is a saint in this mucky battle. Mufti Abul Qasim Banarasi, the new vice-chancellor appointed on July 23, is a good choice. He has a good academic and non-controversial carrier to his merit. Let us hope for a better and peaceful educational campus under his leadership. The nation's heritage, Deoband, must stand tall against all odds.

-- The writer is is editor of Eastern Crescent
-- 
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1. The views/opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the group owners/moderators.

2. This group is for Indians and of Indians who take pride in India's secular and multi-cultural ethos. All of us are followers of Islam as preached and practised by the Last Messenger, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

3. This is a family group. Comments made herein are meant exclusively for the group members. Honourable members are, therefore, requested not to forward personal comments in this group to any third party/non-member, unless you have taken permission from the member.

4. Getting out of this group is easy. Just send a blank email to  nrindians+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com.
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Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi

2011-07-25T17:36:00.001+05:30

Darul Uloom Deoband : Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi removed as Deoband Vice-Chancellor

2011-07-25T07:29:00.002+05:30

Vastanvi axed as Darul V-C for praising Modi

Abantika GhoshAbantika Ghosh, TNN
Jul 24, 2011, 03.26PM IST

Darul Uloom DeobandGhulam Vastanvi removed as Deoband VC

See photoDEOBAND: His remarks about Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi finally cost Darul Uloom vice-chancellor Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi his job with the Islamic seminary's governing council Majlis-e-Shura sacking the cleric on Sunday.

The decision followed after Vastanvi refused to step down as he had initially promised in the February meeting of the council. Caretaker vice-chancellor Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani has now been made the new incumbent in the prestigious post ending seven months of drama over Vastanvi's comments that Muslims in Gujarat, like the state's other residents, had progressed under Modi's rule.

Vastanvi's remarks, first published in TOI, set off an uproar with his opponents closing ranks and his backers finding it difficult to support him despite the Gujarati cleric's clarifications.

Vastanvi went back on his promise on the ground that the inquiry report submitted by the three-member committee set up in February to examine allegations against him and also to probe those who fomented anti-Vastanvi protests was incomplete.

"The report failed to provide any insight into what or who was the trigger for the student unrest in Darul Uloom, so it is incomplete and I refused to quit on the basis of an incomplete report although I had said in February that I would quit irrespective of the contents of the report," Vastanvi said.

The sacked rector said the Shura passed a proposal to sack him by a vote of 8-4. "I am leaving Deoband for now but I continue to be a member of the Shura," Vastanvi said before leaving the sleepy Uttar Pradesh town which had a heavy police presence for the Shura meeting.

As Vastanvi's SUV left the guesthouse where the meeting was held, students from rooftops and on the streets cheered his removal. Some sections of the student community had been demanding his ouster vociferously.

Vastanvi had said in January that Muslims should move on from the Gujarat riots and the Modi government in Gujarat was doing a good job.

The inquiry report - which included clippings from TOI - gave Vastanvi a clean chit, admitted Shura member Abdul Alim Farooqui. "But he had promised he would quit so it was imperative that he did. That is why Shura decided to discontinue his services as the Mohtamim," Farooqui said. The cleric strongly opposed Vastanvi at the Shura meeting.

Vastanvi did suggest that politics and family interests might have played a role in his exit. Senior teacher Arshad Madani, who is Jamiat general secretary Mahmood Madani's uncle - the two are warring over control of the Jamiat and Deoband - has been active in the leadership tussle. So has Dhubri MP Badruddin Ajmal, a Shura member who has been one of Vastanvi's strongest supporters.

"I could have continued as Mohtamim but that would be detrimental to the interests of Darul Uloom as people with political leanings do not want me to work here. Darul Uloom is not the heirloom of some family. I have its best interests at heart so I do not want to be a roadblock in its progress," Vastanvi said.

Both the Madanis have been camping in Deoband. Ajmal though was one of the four who supported Vastanvi, the others including two members of the inquiry committee, Mufti Ismail and Mufti Ibrahim. Insiders said it was Mahmood Madani who finally swung things against Vastanvi. The proposal to sack Vastanvi was moved by acting VC Nomani.

Arshad has been one of the most strident critics of Vastanvi and it is said to be his opposition that was the primary reason for Vastanvi's woes. His position left Mahmood Madani with few options, locked as they are in a fight for control of the Jamiat.

Reiterating the impression that Vastanvi's fate had actually been sealed in the February Shura meeting itself when he had pleaded for an honourable exit and the inquiry committee was formed, Ismail said, "Our 15-page report was not considered at all. Why was the committee set up if Vastanvi's exit had been pre-planned?"

(Courtesy: The Times of India)

Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi removed as Darul Uloom Chief

2011-07-25T07:21:00.000+05:30

Vastanvi removed as Darul Uloom chief

Atiq Khan

Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi was removed from the post of ‘Mohtamim' (Vice-Chancellor) of Darul Uloom, Deoband, on Sunday by the Majlis-e-Shoora, the powerful governing body of the institution.

The Maulana was voted out after he refused to step down, even as Shoora members insisted that he should stick to his February 23, 2011 statement that he would resign “irrespective of the findings of a probe committee.” But he maintained that the report was incomplete. The report of the three-member committee was submitted to the Shoora on Saturday.

Maulana Abul Qasim Nomani of Kanpur has been appointed the Vice-Chancellor.

The committee was formed on February 23, 2011, to investigate charges against Maulana Vastanvi, who had sparked a controversy by praising Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, after he took over on January 10, 2011, following the death of Maulana Marghoobur Rahman.

Maulana Vastanvi, an MBA and of Gujarat, had said at a function in his home State that like all other communities, Muslims too had progressed under the Narendra Modi rule, and that the Muslims should look beyond the post-Godhra communal riots and press ahead.

His statement was seen as an attempt at giving a clean chit to Mr. Modi. As violence broke out on the Darul Uloom campus and demands for his ouster became louder, he called for an emergency meeting of the Shoora for February 23, which set up the committee at his insistence.

The Shoora meeting on Saturday and Sunday was presided over by Maulana Ishtiyaq Ahmed of Bihar's Muzaffarpur.

Sources privy to the meeting said some Shoora members and Maulana Vastanvi exchanged sharp words after he refused to resign. “Aapko jo karna hai kijiye” (You can do whatever you want), he told them and left. He returned after 30 minutes and was told of the verdict. “Shoora ko yeh ikhtiyar hai jisko chaahe mohtamim banaye, jisko chaahe hataye” (The Majlis-e Shoora has the power to appoint Vice-Chancellor or remove him from the post), Maulana Nomani told The Hindu from Deoband on the phone.

“The Shoora's decision to remove Maulana Vastanvi was taken after he refused to quit and backed out of his statement that he would resign irrespective of the findings of the committee,” he said. Interestingly, Maulana Nomani was a member of the probe committee.

In fact, it was at the February 23, 2011 meeting that he was supposed to have resigned. “When the members present at meeting asked the Maulana to submit his resignation, he refused, insisting on the constitution of an investigation committee and saying he would wait for the panel's report,” said Maulana Nomani. Maulana Vastanvi had said whether the report went in his favour or against him, he would resign, Maulana Nomani recalled.

The committee's findings were based on evidence in the form of newspaper interviews of Maulana Vastanvi, pro-Vastanvi statements and anti-Vastanvi opinion. It also recorded the Maulana's statement. “The committee did not give any opinion, but left it to the Shoora to decide on Maulana Vastanvi's fate,” Maulana Nomani said.

(Courtesy: The Hindu)

"I am not going to any court. I accept the Shoora's decision," says Maulana Vastanvi

2011-07-25T05:56:00.001+05:30

The Terror Act in Mumbai is an Attack Against Our Nation

2011-07-14T21:34:00.001+05:30

 
Press release
 
The Terror Act in Mumbai is an Attack Against Our Nation
AUDF president, Maul. Badruddin Ajmal
 
Mumbai, 14 July: "It is an act of terror, it is highly deplorable and a crime against humanity. No sane society would tolerate such repeated havoc on human life and property let alone any     religion." These were the reactions of Maulana Badruddin Ajmal, Lok Sabha MP and president of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), following serial bomb blasts in Indian's financial capital Mumbai last evening. The triple blasts in south and central parts of the city have succumbed 22 innocent lives and wounded around 150 common people on Wednesday between 6:45 to 7 pm was the third successive serial blast from 1993 and latest major terror strike against the city after 26/11 of 2008.
 
'Terrorism is a worldwide contagious ailment; it directly or indirectly affects all nations and every individual. The world has to face it with required sanity, unity and resolute strategy. The terror attacks in New Your, London and Mumbai must be taken equally by the world community. And similarly bomb blasts in Varanasi, Makkah Masjid, Malegaon and Mumbai must be viewed by the investigating and law enforcement agencies of India as just attacks against our nation.' "There must be zero tolerance for any kind of terrorism from any group or nation and the perpetrators must be brought to justice sooner than later" said Maulana Badruddin Ajmal.
 
Expressing their anguish over the dastardly serial blasts in Mumbai, Tarun Rathi AIUDF Mumbai Pradesh president and M. Burhanuddin Qasmi, AIUDF Maharashtra spokesperson, explicitly condemned the deplorable terror act and offered condolence to the families of those lost their lives or are injured laying in the hospital. They also appealed to the youths of Mumbai especially AIUDF youths to rush to the hospitals and donate blood where needed.
          
Maulana Ajmal who is also the president of Assam State Jamiat Ulama-e Hind said that the obvious target of such attacks is to instigate chaos in the country, create mistrust among friendly neighbours and ultimately weaken our nation. It is the duty of government of India to catch-hold of the real culprits, expose them and severely punish them. He strongly cautioned the Mumbai Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) and the national media not to hurry towards any conclusion while identifying the criminals. Sometimes mere speculation and unhealthy discussions from media makes thing tougher for the government and agencies to do their work properly, he said.
 
AUDF president Maulana Ajmal also appealed to the Mumbaikers and the nation to maintain peace and harmony. He said, "It is our country and we all have a responsibility to defeat this anti national menace unitedly". He advised people to 'remain watchful, maintain peace and calm in all circumstances'. Shab-e Barat (the night of luck) is on this Sunday (17 July), Muslim should pray for the nation's unity and safety, Maulana Ajmal said. 
 
--END—
 
Issued for immediate publication in print and electronic media by
M. Burhanuddin Qasmi
Spokesperson: All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF)
Patliputra Nagar, Oshiwara, Jogeshwari (West), Mumbai - 102
manager@markazulmaarif.org (Mob: 09820760545) 
 
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SORCERY: Is it not a fraud on gullible Muslims to amass wealth?

2011-07-12T18:18:00.001+05:30

SORCERY: Is it not a fraud on gullible Muslims to amass wealth?

By V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

Chennai based Sana Nursary and Primary School celebrated its anniversary on 24th January 2010 and its boys and girls proved their mettle by enacting different programmes in English, Arabic and Urdu which were very much appreciated by people gathered there in good numbers. Maulana Mohammed Kaleem Siddiqui sahib was the Chief Guest. I heard his speech carefully and had an interview with him later. As his views are thought provoking, I want to share them with you. He said inter alia:

"A Muslim is bound to possess a thirst for knowledge and acquire it in different sciences including medicine, engineering, astronomy etc. There were great Muslim scientists in the past. The holy Quran asks us to research what is in the earth and on the skies - Tafakkaru fissamawati wal arz. Even learning a language different from ones mother tongue such as English which was neglected and its learning was considered Haraam on patriotic grounds when Muslims were involved in the freedom struggle is necessary now. It is very unfortunate that Muslim community is educationally and economically backward........" The Maulana exhorted the students and the people to seek more and more knowledge packed education. Asked if getting higher education is not necessary for women as sermoned by some ulema, he retorted that getting no education is haraam as it is against the Islamic diktat of "talabul ilmi fareezatun ala kulli Muslimin wa Muslimatin" ( Seeking knowledge is mandatory for all Muslims - men and women).

As regards "baddua" (cursing), he said that it is not permitted and our Pesh Imams should be careful about it. There is no permission in Islam to curse anybody. Sometimes we see our pesh Imams cursing in words like "allahumma shaththith shamlahum, allahumma dammir deyarahum". This is not correct. I have asked many to refrain from doing so."

He also pointed out to a question that putting hurdles in the way of good things being done (as was done in the case of Dr. Zakir Naik's Peace programme in Chennai) is against the letter and spirit of Islam. Difference of opinions can be discussed and sorted out and enmity should not be created among people. He honestly feels that there is no issue which cannot be solved by discussion in the light of the Quran and Ahaadeeth.

All the above and some other issues he discussed were appealing to me except his views on sorcery (sahar, jadoo tona ). A man approached the Maulana with his son and said that "some sorcerer has made his son ill mentally with the result that he behaves differently nowadays and puts us to troubles". The Maulana advised him to do some isthighfar like saying Subhanallah 100 times daily in the morning and evening. I asked him if any sorcerer can harm anybody without any contact just by reciting something or doing things, his hesitant reply was almost in the affirmative. This surprised me. I said if harming others is possible for the sorcerers, there will not be any direct attacks between one country and another and rulers like Bush and Saddam could have sought the help of sorcerers to finish or harm each other. The Maulana had no clear answer. Can anybody throw light on this vital subject and explain why people like me cannot reject the theory of sorcery as practiced now as absurd and fraud on the gullible people and nothing but exploitation to amass wealth

"AMBUR OPEN 2 " LEATHER EXHIBITION 9TH AND 10TH JULY 2011

2011-07-10T07:02:00.002+05:30

IMPORTANCE OF “AMBUR OPEN” EXHIBITION AND TAMIL NADU LEATHER INDUSTRY

V.M. KHALEELUR RAHMAN

A glittering “Ambur Open” exhibition of footwear components, accessories and finished leather being held jointly by Indian Shoe Federation (ISF) and Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA) annually at the Rs.11.5 crore architecturally well designed, fully air-conditioned and highly modern structure Ambur Trade Centre established by Ambur Economic Development Organisation Ltd. (AEDOL) is assuming great importance and becoming more and more popular among the people connected with the leather and leather products industry. After conducting their first ever exhibition successfully at the Ambur Trade Centre during its inauguration last year, the two associations are organizing their second exhibition “Ambur Open 2” on 9th and 10th of July 2011. It is learnt that the exhibition is fully booked as it is conducted at Ambur, a great internationally well known hub for leather and leather products.

Ambur is the industrial belt of many modern tanneries and well established leading footwear factories from where world’s renowned leather dealers and shoe giants like Fretz Men, Florsheim, Lumberjack, Gabor, Clarks, Hugo Boss and others source their requirements. Some of the reputed and modern shoe manufacturing units at Ambur are: N.M. Zackria & CO., T. Abdul Wahid & Co., Farida Shoes Pvt. Ltd, Althaf Shoes Pvt. Ltd, Florind Shoes Pvt. Ltd. and many more. Interested people can ascertain the names of many other leading Ambur based shoe manufacturing units from associations like Indian Shoe Federation (website: www. Indianshoefederation.in).

INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH OF AMBUR

According to Ambur Economic Development Organisation Ltd. (AEDOL), in Ambur there are 43 export oriented tanneries and shoe units that employ about 25,000 workers. The annual turnover of these units amount to Rs. 900 crore and the export turnover is about Rs. 750 crore.

There are 36 leather finishing units (raw to finishing) with 2000 workers and 24 raw to wet blue/EI processing units with 1200 workers. Apart from these there are 25 shoe uppers making units with 2000 workers and 15 leather dry finishing units with 400 workers. There are also 96 tiny shoe units with 1000 workers.

The total operating units are about 207 with 31600 workers and their annual turnover is around Rs.1047 crore with export turnover of Rs. 770 crore.
* Scale of investment: Rs. 1000 crore.

* Information relating to output during the last 3 years:

The present level domestic and export sales are about Rs.277 and Rs.770 crore respectively. The expected output after proposed intervention is about Rs.500 crore for domestic and about Rs.2500 crore for export. Thus the total sales at the present level is about 1047 crore and the expected sales after the proposed intervention is Rs.3000 crore.

The cluster is the largest leather cluster in TamilNadu.10% of leather exports and 25% of shoe exports of the country originate from Ambur. 2 CETPs and 24 ETPs function efficiently for effluent treatment here.

Employment:

Present level is 31,600 people of whom more than 50% are women from families below the poverty line and after proposed intervention it is expected to rise to 45,000 people.

INDUSTRIAL STRENGH OF VANIYAMBADI

The Aedol further says that the tanning industry in Vaniyambadi took roots on the River Palar about two hundred years ago. The decision to set-up tanneries in Vaniyambadi was more of a natural selection process - it had ample supplies of good quality water that was required for the tanning process and the manufactured product used tannins extracted from wattle bark and myrobalam nuts. The product came to be famously known as East India tanned leather (E. I. Tanned Leather, in local parlance) that was much sought after by the auction houses in England and the tanners specialized in producing the same from sheepskins. This semi-finished product was the basis on which fine leather goods were manufactured in the factories of England & Europe.

One remarkable feature of the tanning industry in Vaniyambadi was the convergence of the greater part of the raw and salted sheepskins - sold by merchants and traders from every nook and corner of India - to the tanneries located here on the banks of the River Palar. Inspite of the geographical stretch of the country and the logistics involved in hauling this semi-perishable raw material in bullock-carts, trucks and trains, the capacity of the tanners in Vaniyambadi to magnetically draw from this huge resource bank should not be missed. The dominance of the tanning industry in the sheepskin sector continues as a tradition even after two hundred years of operation.

From the export of tanned sheepskins, the industry moved with the times and the recommendations of the E N Murthy & Seetharamiah Committees in graduating to manufacture finished leathers and products. The stress of each of the Committees was value-addition. In the first stage, the tanners in Vaniyambadi moved from E. I. tanned leathers to crust leathers and thereon to finished leathers. In the second stage, traditional tanners and young-blood entrepreneurs switched to the manufacture of leather products like garments, small leather goods and gloves.

In the beginning, this metamorphosis from traditional tanning to product manufacturing consumed almost two decades of time but the third decade has brought in greater consolidation, finer workmanship and the ability to survive in a competitive world.

There are 140 tanneries in Vaniyambadi, primarily a tannery town which is located at a distance of 20 km. from Ambur.

AN OVERVIEW OF THE LEATHER INDUSTRY IN TAMIL NADU

Leather industry in Tamil Nadu is considered to be very ancient and some say it is of more than two centuries old. The art of tanning of hides and skins is prevalent here since time immemorial. Once it was done in primitive tanning methods and passed on with some improvements from generation to generation.

After Independence, the leather industry has made a rapid technical and technological advancement, thanks to the efforts of tanners, technical know-how of the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) and well chalked out policies of the governments in the state and at the centre based on the recommendations of the Seetharamiah Committee report. Many people established modern tanneries and started doing high quality finished leather meant for shoes, garments, goods, upholstery etc. Many modern units also came up for shoes, garments and goods. All these show that a tremendous industrial development has taken place within a period of about 30 years. No doubt, our country is very much on the forward march....

AISHTMA:

The All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association is a 92 years old apex body and various district and regional associations are affiliated to it. Both the central and state governments have recognised it and consult on all policy matters such as labour, taxation etc. It is also in the service of tanners in importing and supplying tanning materials like wattle extract to them. It is also associated with many national and international trade and industry organisations. It celebrated its platinum jubilee in a grand manner in the year 1994. The present President and Hony. Secretary are Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed and Mr. Mohan M. Sreenivas respectively.

TAMIL NADU IN THE FOREFRONT

According to Aishtma, Tamil Nadu is in the forefront in leather with an annual production of more than 1.2 billion sq. ft. of finished leather. It is about 60% share in total finished leather production of our country and 45% share in total export from India. There are about 750 tanneries in Tamil Nadu and the raw material processed per day is 500-1000 tons and annual turnover more than Rs.10,000 crore, number of operational CETPs is 16 catering to 630 tanneries, number of ETPs is 94 and there are more than 56 RO plants in Tamil Nadu. No tannery operates without access to any Effluent Treatment Plant and 100% connectivity to pollution control devices is a speciality of Tamil Nadu.

There are 497 leather products units in Tamil Nadu producing about 59 million pairs of full shoes, 27 million pairs of shoe uppers, 7.1 million pieces of leather garments and 29.5 million pieces of leather goods. The quality of various leathers being produced here is of high standard and comparable with that of any advanced country. Consequently the state of Tamil Nadu once popular for E.I. Tanned hides and skins throughout the world particularly in countries like the U.S.A., the U.K., Italy, West Germany, France, Japan etc. is now popular for leather and leather products in these and many other countries. While Chennai, Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Pernambut, Ranipet, Trichy, Erode and Dindigul are the main centres for leather, Chennai, Ambur and Ranipet are the major hub for leather products such as leather shoes, garments and goods. Our country has earned laurels as a good and reliable supplier of leather and leather products in the world market. Interested persons can contact the following association which is, as said earlier, an apex body of different district and regional associations:

The All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association, “Leather Centre”, 43/53, Raja Muthiah Road, Periamet, Chennai – 600 003 (India)

Telephone: 0091-44-25610636, 25615247 Fax: 0091-44-25615292

E-mail: aishtma@vsnl.com and assn@aishtma.com

Website: http://www.aishtma.com

DINDIGUL, THRICY AND ERODE

Dindigul is still a well known centre as before for E.I. tanned goat and sheep skins as most of the tanners here are addicted to doing only this popular item due to various reasons. There are very few tanners in the chrome tanning and no tanner seems to be producing finished leather here. A tanner who has inherited this trade from his forefathers told me that the present situation is not conducive for switch over to anything like full chrome, semi chrome or finished leather. The association also does not permit it as pollution is involved. Other problems such as labour and water are also there. The progressive policy of the government has not changed this tanning centre much.

While the leather industry has suffered, textile industry has made a good development here in Dindigul. It is said that there are more than 250 spinning mills here.

Other popular centres are Trichy and Erode. There are many tanneries in Trichy where mostly high standard E.I. tanned goat skins are produced and in the Erode tanneries wet blue cow hides are the main items done. Only very few tanners do some other leather items.

PERNAMBUT

This small town has about 35 tanneries where mostly items like buffalo hides and soul leathers are made for local supplies. Some are also exporting these items. Some shoe factories have also been established here. They are mostly doing job works. Much development is not seen here as perhaps there is nobody to guide them for adopting modern approaches for finance and industrial developments.

CHENNAI

There are quite a large number of tanneries and leather goods, shoe and garment factories in different parts of Chennai mainly at Pallavaram and Madhavaram where different items of leather and leather products are made and supplied to national and international customers. There are so many highly modern units where high quality leather and leather products are made and exported.

AMBUR AND VANIYAMBADI

In Ambur, a well known centre for leather, there are quite a large number of tanneries where E.I. tanned goat and sheep skins, S/C and F/C finished leather etc. are produced. Some of the tanneries are very big and modern with all necessary machinery and infrastructure where high class finished leathers meant for shoes, garments and goods are produced and exported. Importers in different countries have close links with Ambur based tanners and exporters and do big contracts as goat and cow leathers are available in plenty here with international standards. There are very few sheep tanners here. This town has also made a name for its well equipped and well infrastructured modern shoe factories where high standard world class foot wears are made and exported to many countries including the U.S.A, U.K, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland and Spain.

At the time of writing this two industrialists come to my mind who were instrumental for the industrial development here. If I remember correct while the late Anaikar Abdul Shukoor sahib started doing finished leather silently before the government introduced its progressive policy, the late T. Abdul Wahid sahib was also a pioneer in following the government policy and asking tanners to do it for their better prospects in the industrial arena. The latter had to face even criticism for his well intentioned actions. But now the leather industry realises their importance and their foresight.

Another centre famous for the leather industry is Vaniyambadi. Here again there are quite a large number of tanneries where items such as E.I. tanned goat and sheep skins, S/C and F/C finished leathers are made, locally supplied and exported. There are also innumerable job tanners here. It is the best place for dealing in sheep items. We can say that it is the leather tanning centre with the largest number of tanneries in Tamil Nadu. No other centre has as many tanneries as Vaniyambadi does.

Vaniyambadi is just about 30 minutes drive from Ambur. While there are more tanneries in Vaniyambadi, there are more shoe units in Ambur which are supplying to the best shoe companies abroad. These two neighbouring centres are playing an important role in the development of the leather industry in the country.

RANIPET

Ranipet has a large concentration of tanneries like Ambur, Vaniyambadi and Chennai processing hides and skins from raw to finish. Various descriptions of leather such as lining, upper and suede leathers are made here for supply to national and international customers. There are also some job tanneries here. Besides these, there are many highly sophisticated and modern units where world class shoes, garments and leather goods are made and exported. SIPCOT industrial complex is also here. It is yet another well known place for leather and leather products in the world market.

The Ambur Open exhibition is sure to bring in the desired results and promote strong bonds among its participants and business visitors. There are also indications of this fair becoming a fascinating annual international event as this part of the country is the backbone of the Indian leather industry.

(Indian Leather, July 2011)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPORTERS FACE A CHALLENGING LEATHER MARKET

2011-07-08T08:00:00.000+05:30

EXPORTERS FACE A CHALLENGING LEATHER MARKET

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

The leather market continues to be firm with more demand and less supply. Exporters of leather and leather products are finding it difficult to cover their requirements of raw, wet blue and tanned hides and skins due to short supply and high prices. They have to book in advance for their needs of these items with suppliers. In leather centres like Chennai, Vaniyambadi, Ambur, Erode, Dindigul etc. high prices are quoted by tanners for their tanned and wet blue hides and skins as there is abnormal price rise in raw hides and skins everywhere in the country.

It is learnt that many leading shoe manufacturers are in Erode showing interest for wet blue cow hides. Good business is taking place. Wet blue cow hides 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grades are sold at around Rs.47, 42, 34 and 27 per sq. ft respectively. These prices are just an indication. Prices may differ depending on the quality and selection of tanners. Many exporters of leather and leather products have to depend on imports also for their requirements particularly in higher selections even though here again prices are not attractive.

In the Chennai leather market, there is good demand for tanned and wet blue goat skins. Tanners are able to sell their 3/5 and 4/7 sq. ft. ABC grade of Grain, Suede and Lining selections at around Rs.60, 54 and 30/- per sq. ft. respectively. There are also reports of business in 4/7 All Suedes at around Rs.48/- per sq. ft. and E.I. tanned Rejections at around Rs.25/- per sq. ft. As availability of these items is limited, they are sold even before their arrival from the tanneries on certain conditions. The present situation is something unprecedented in the history of the leather industry. It has landed many exporters in trouble according to many sources. There are also reports of delayed shipments due to non availability of raw hides and skins at the right time. Many tanners say that suppliers of raw hides and skins are reaping the maximum benefit in the present market.

Overseas customers show interest for various items of leather meant for shoes and garments but workable prices are not available to exporters here. The quotations of exporters are almost as follows at present.

Size and Material Substance Selection Price US $ per sq. ft. C&F

3/5 sq. ft. Goat Upper Leather 0.6/0.8 mm ABC – D – E 2.25 – 1.60 – 1.50

3/5 or 4/7 sq. ft. Goat Suede Leather 0.6/0.8 mm ABC – D – E 2.00 – 1.50 – 1.40

4/7 sq. ft. Goat Lining Leather 0.5/0.7 mm TR-1/2/3 1.35/1.25/1.15

6/9 sq. ft. Goat Milled Leather 0.7/0.9 mm ABCD 2.10

AMBUR OPEN 2 EXHIBITION: 9th and 10th JULY 2011

Indian Shoe Federation (ISF) and Indian Footwear Components Manufacturers Association (IFCOMA) will be arranging their second edition AMBUR 2 exhibition of footwear components, accessories and finished leather on 9th and 10th July 2011 at Ambur Trade Centre in Ambur which is the leading cluster for export of finished leather, shoe uppers and full shoes. This cluster enjoys a good reputation for quality and delivery in the international market. Many leading international companies cover their requirements from the Ambur cluster which comprises of Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Pernambut, Vellore and Ranipet industrial belts. Their first exhibition held last year at the time of inauguration of the Ambur Trade Centre was highly successful. This time it is expected to be doubly successful bringing in the desired results for the development of the leather and leather products industry in the country.

The exhibition offers tremendous business opportunities for the participants and visitors. The exhibition is fully booked. Most of the leading tanners and manufacturers of footwear components and accessories will be displaying their products enabling leather product manufacturers in the country to source quality leathers and other materials from the quality conscious and reliable people.

The exhibition avenue, the newly constructed modern Ambur Trade Centre on the M.C. Road, is very near to the Ambur railway station and bus stand and convenient to all.

(Indian Leather, June 2011)

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Muslim Women are in miserable condition: Uzma Naheed

2011-06-14T05:58:00.000+05:30

 
Muslim women in India are in miserable condition: Uzma Naheed
Submitted by admin on 25 June 2009 - 9:03am
 Articles
Indian Muslim
Women
By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net
Uzma Naheed comes from a family of the founders of Darul Uloom Deoband. She is a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and has been working for the upliftment of the Muslim women in India and abroad. 
Though she comes from the religious establishment she is very critical of religious establishment for keep Muslims in intellectually and socially miserable condition. 
In a candid interview with TwoCircles.net she talked about the situation of Muslim women in India, her work with IQRA, and the launch of IQRA International Women's Alliance (IIWA).
 Her background:
Uzma Nahid comes from a family of the founders of University of Deoband. Her father Moulana Ahmad Salim Qasmi is the vice chancellor of the Darul Uloom Deoband Waqf. 
Moulana Qasim Nanutwi the founder of the Darul Uloom Deoband was her grand grand father. The very famous Vice Chancellor of the Darul Uloom deoband, Qari Tayyab was her grand father.She was born in 1960 in Deoband. She completed her graduation from Aligarh Muslim University and did her masters in Islamic studies from Deoband itself. 
On the situation of Muslim women in India: 
She considered the situation of Muslim women in India as "miserable".
"We have visited all the states in India and we found Muslim women in miserable condition. I can feel their plight very well. They are neither opinion maker nor the decision maker. The most unfortunate thing is that they are not able to realize their loss. They don't know what kind of status they have got from Quran and the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)."
She came down heavily upon the men folk of the Muslim community. She pointed out that "the most tragic thing is that Muslim women have accepted happily and internalized the kinds of roles their men want them to live with. They are told that this is what they are made to do and which they should be happy doing"
She said the situation has gone so bad that they have surrendered their rights to men. "You go and ask any women be it a simple women or any Aalima about the concept of Talaq in Islam. They will simply tell you that it is the right of men. They don't have any idea whether even they have got some rights or not."
She criticized men for confining their women folks to only the household works and for making her feel that she is doing every thing. She said that it is not always the case that women are happy doing the household work. They can not be happy as such only by doing the household chores because this is what they do usually. 
Apart from that she questions that if a woman doesn't want to do the household work does Islam compel her to do all the things which are otherwise portrayed as her aim of life?
She said categorically that there is no legal sanctity through which the Muslim men can justify the roles they have provided to the women. 
Uzma Naheed speaking to TwoCircles.net

MR. M.F. HUSAIN IS NO MORE

2011-06-09T16:24:00.000+05:30

http://in.news.yahoo.com/mf-husain-passes-away-in-london.html

MF Husain, India's best known contemporary painter, has died in London. India should grieve for two reasons. At 95, he was active and had lots of painting left in him. And he died in exile, unhappy with the way his home country had treated him.

Husain had been in exile since 2006, when he was attacked by rightist groups angry with his portrayal of Hindu deities. Last year, he was offered Qatari citizenship. But his heart remained in India, and in interviews, spoke fondly of what this country meant to him.

PHOTOS: LEGEND CALLED MF HUSAIN

CNN-IBN reported from London that he was admitted only two days ago for fluid retention in his lungs, and but had otherwise been"in fairly good health".

Arun Vadhera, a friend who visited him at Royal Brompton Hospital yesterday, said he had been cheerful, talking about eating out at a restaurant soon after his discharge. "He really really missed India a lot," he told a TV channel.

He popularized modern art in India, painter S G Vasudev told a Bangalore news channel.

Satya Sai Baba : An Insider's narration

2011-05-29T07:01:00.000+05:30

http://www.hindu.com/op/2011/05/29/stories/2011052954661400.htm

Sai Baba: an insider's account

G. VENKATARAMAN

In his article (Open Page, May 15, 2011) P. M. Bhargava sought to evaluate ‘objectively and unemotionally,' the life and legacy of Sathya Sai Baba. Like the writer, I too come from a scientific background with, however, one important difference, namely that I have spent the last 18 years in Baba's ashram, following my retirement in 1992. Thus my response is based on personal knowledge.

Mr. Bhargava ascribes five reasons for Baba's ‘rise to fame,' as he puts it. Three of these are connected with religion and the issue of miracles, subjects on which people tend to have sharply divided opinions, to which of course they are perfectly entitled; I shall therefore not discuss them. The last two concern first, the succour and peace that people who came to Baba sought and, secondly, his charitable works “like opening hospitals and providing potable water to villagers.” These are what I wish to comment on.

Let me start with the last mentioned, which is summarily dismissed by Mr. Bhargava in exactly 36 words with the condescending remark that “there are innumerable people in the country who engage in such acts to avoid undue attention focussed on their ill-gotten wealth. Accounting of his enormous wealth has never been transparent.”

This is a sweeping comment made without offering a single piece of evidence concerning (a) ‘ill-gotten wealth' (b) ‘enormous wealth' and (c) the charge of lack of transparency. Frankly, I am stunned.

Going further into these unsubstantiated allegations — for they are nothing more than that — let us start with the issue of transparency. Baba executed all his projects via Trusts set up according to due process. Every single paisa spent on every single project came out of donations received by these Trusts via cheques and drafts from people all over the world. Some directly paid their contribution to the branch of the SBI located in the ashram; at no time was any cash received by the Trust. All accounts have always been and continue to be regularly audited and statements concerning these are furnished to all authorities concerned as required by law, including the Income-Tax Commissioner. Where foreign donations are concerned, explicit permission of the Home Ministry has been obtained to receive them and every year, full particulars are furnished in the prescribed format. It is worth adding that lately, the Home Ministry has tightened regulations across the board in view of concerns about terrorism.

Turning now to hospitals, the writer seems to be unaware that Baba's Trust has set up two Super Speciality Hospitals that provide tertiary healthcare where, among other things, cardiac and neuro-surgery are routinely performed, absolutely free — this includes everything from the initial consultation, all diagnostic tests including MRI and CT scans, surgical procedure, stay in ICU and general ward, all medicines, physiotherapy (where required), food, etc. Almost invariably, the beneficiaries are poor people who come from all over India and Nepal and occasionally from elsewhere too. During the last (financial) year, over 25,000 people were treated as inpatients, the market value of the free service rendered being close to about Rs. 250 crores. Being a Trust activity, all accounts are audited as mandated and appropriate statements submitted to public authorities concerned. There is absolutely no question whatsoever of laundering of ‘ill-gotten wealth' as alleged; in fact, there is no such wealth and there never was any, period.

Passing mention must also be made of the drinking water project executed for the tribals of the East Godavari region for the simple reason that tribals of this country have a long history of being neglected. Many years ago, Baba travelled extensively in the East Godavari region, and when it became possible, he had the water project executed even though no one asked him to. That was just one of the many ways in which he offered succour to the poor, often without their having to come to him. He did the same following the massive floods in Orissa in September 2008, when thousands of poor villagers lost their homes. The moment he heard about their loss he had seven hundred houses built in three affected districts, swiftly, quietly and, as always, without fanfare.

(A physicist by training and profession, the writer served in BARC, Mumbai, IGCAR, Kalpakkam and the DRDO. After retirement, he took up teaching in the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning (Deemed University) which he also served for one term as the Vice-Chancellor).

(Courtesy: The Hindu 29th May 2011)

AMBUR OPEN 2 : 9TH AND 10TH JULY 2011 AT AMBUR TRADE CENTRE

2011-05-23T06:22:00.002+05:30

The "Ambur Open 2" leather and leather products exhibition will be held at Ambur Trade Centre. For details please see the following link:

http://ifcoma.org/newsbsm/AmburOpen2.asp

TAMIL NADU : COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

2011-05-18T15:07:00.000+05:30

Council of Ministers
Selvi J Jayalalithaa

Chief Minister

Public, Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, Indian Forest Service, General Administration, District Revenue Officers, Prevention of Corruption, Police, Home.

Thiru O. Panneerselvam

Minister for Finance Finance, Planning, Legislative Assembly, Elections and Passports.

Thiru K.A. Sengottaiyan

Minister for Agriculture Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Agro Service Cooperatives, Horticulture, Sugarcane Cess, Sugarcane Development and Waste Land Development.

Thiru. Natham R. Viswanathan

Minister for Electricity and Prohibition and Excise

Electricity,Non-Conventional Energy Development, Prohibition and Excise, Molasses.

Thiru K.P. Munusamy

Minister for Municipal Administration and Rural Development

Municipal Administration, Rural Development, Panchayats and Panchayat Unions, Poverty Alleviation Programmes, Rural Indebtedness, Urban and Rural Water Supply.

Thiru C. Shanmugavelu

Minister for Industries

Industries, Steel Control, Mines and Minerals, and Special Initiatives

Thiru R. Vaithilingam

Minister for Housing and Urban Development Housing, Rural Housing and Housing Development, Slum Clearance Board and Accommodation Control, Town Planning, Urban Development and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority

Thiru Agri S.S Krishnamoorthy

Minister for Food Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Protection and Price Control.

Thiru C. Karuppasamy

Minister for Animal Husbandry Animal Husbandry, Milk and Dairy Development.

Thiru P Palaniappan

Minister for Higher Education Higher Education including Technical Education, Electronics, Science and Technology.

Thiru C.Ve Shanumgam

Minister for School Education School Education and Archaeology

Thiru Sellur K Raju

Minister for Cooperation Cooperation, Statistics and Ex-Servicemen Welfare

Thiru K.T Pachamal

Minister for Forests Forests and Cinchona.

Thiru Edappadi K Palanisamy

Minister for Highways & Minor Ports Highways and Minor Ports.

Thiru S.P Shanmuganathan

Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments

Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE), Tamil Official Language and Tamil Culture.

Thiru K.V Ramalingam

Minister for Public Works Public Works , Irrigation including Minor Irrigation, Programme Works

Thiru S.P Velumani

Minister for Special Programme Implementation Implementation of Special Programmes including implemenation of the Election manifesto.

Thiru T.K.M Chinnayya

Minister for Backward Classes Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Denotified Communities, Overseas Indians, Refugees & Evacuees.

Thiru M.C Sampath

Minister for Rural Industries Rural Industries including Cottage Industries, Small Industries.

Thiru P. Thangamani

Minister for Revenue

Revenue, District Revenue Establishment, Deputy Collectors, Weights and Measures, Debt Relief including legislation on Money lending, Chits, Registration of Companies.

Thiru G. Senthamizhan

Minister for Information Information and Publicity, Film Technology and Cinematograph Act, Stationery and Printing and Government Press.

Tmt S Gokula Indira

Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration Commercial Taxes, Registration and Stamp Act

Tmt Selvi Ramajayam

Minister for Social Welfare Social Welfare including Women's and Children's Welfare, Nutritious Noon Meal, Orphanages and Correctional Administration, Integrated Child Development and Beggar Homes, Welfare of the Differently abled and Social Reforms.

Thiru B.V Ramanaa

Minister for Handlooms and Textiles Handlooms and Textiles, Khadi and Village Industries Boad, Bhoothan and Gramadhan.

Thiru R.B Udhayakumar

Minister for Information Technology Information Technology

Thiru N Subramanian

Minister for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Adi Dravidar Welfare, Hill Tribes and Bonded Labour.

Thiru V Senthil Balaji

Minister for Transport Transport, Nationalised Transport, Motor Vehicles Act.

Thiru N Mariyam Pichai

Minister for Environment Environment and Pollution Control, Minorities Welfare including Wakf.

Thiru K.A Jayapal

Minister for Fisheries Fisheries and Fisheries Development Corporation

Thiru E. Subaya

Minister for Law, Courts and Prisons Law, Courts and Prisons, Personnel and Administrative Reforms.

Thiru Budhichandhiran

Minister for Tourism Tourism, Tourism Development Corporation.

Thiru S.T Chellapandian

Minister for Labour Labour, Population, Employment and Training, Newsprint Control, Census and Urban and Rural Employment.

Dr. V.S Vijay

Minister for Health Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare.

Thiru N.R Sivapathi

Minister for Sports and Youth Welfare Sports and Youth Welfare.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

World's Largest University Gives Saudi Women Hope for Change

2011-05-16T17:46:00.001+05:30

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article406052.ece

World's Largest University Gives Saudi Women Hope for Change

By SIRAJ WAHAB

Published in Arab News on Monday, May 16, 2011

Saudi women educators and professionals were upbeat about the opening on Sunday, May 15, of Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) in Riyadh and took it as a sign that women may start to assume a more active role in the Kingdom's development.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah inaugurated the SR20 billion university, 25 km east of the Saudi capital, amid cheers of over 2,000 students and faculty members. With a capacity to enroll about 50,000 students, the PNU is the largest women-only university in the world and part of an ambitious education plan of the Saudi government. The university's residential area has about 1,400 villas and its massive hostel facilities to accommodate 12,000 students. The sprawling campus sits on a site that exceeds 800 hectares.

"I hope it will lead to a massive turnaround in the fortunes of Saudi women," said Dr. Aisha Almana, founder of Alkhobar's Mohammed Almana College of Health Sciences. "However, universities of the world are not known by their physical structure — they attain status and credibility by what they produce. I mean a university is known by the quality of its graduates. I hope the new university will be a trendsetter. We all know that women constitute 50 percent of the Saudi population. Recent statistics, at least those from University of Dammam, indicate that there are more women graduates than men. Meaning women are more aware of the need for education. They are equal partners in the development and progress of this great nation."

Almana said Saudi Arabia should concentrate on making its people productive. "Oil is here today, and it may not be here tomorrow. Look at Japan; they had no natural resources, but it is one of most robust economies in the world — just by the sheer power of their people. We should focus on investing in human capital. It is our people who will take us far. We should concentrate on creating excellent human resources. People are our greatest asset, and we should nurture them."

Jeddah broadcaster and newspaper columnist Samar Fatany said the new university should be a source of pride for the Kingdom.

"It has bright prospects," Fatany told Arab News. "It will be inspire the young generation of Saudi women. Hopefully it will bring in a new trend of positive thinking and produce a new group of educated women who will eventually assume leadership positions in their respective fields. We need such universities to help us excel. The new university will help our women to compete with the best women in the world and create healthy competition within the various universities in the Kingdom. It will raise the benchmark of education."

"First and foremost it indicates Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah's support for women," said writer and physician Dr. Samia Amoudi. "This is a big step in the empowerment of Saudi women. It is also significant that it is named after Princess Nora bint Abdulrahman who is the sister of the king. "For such a large, prestigious project to be named after a woman is an honor for all of us. It will have a great impact on society and how it perceives us women. I am very happy that our leadership is aware of our needs. They have placed their trust in us."

"Now it's the turn and the responsibility of the women of our Kingdom to ensure that this university attains a high rank in the world and the Middle East in particular," said Jubail teacher Huda Al-Shehri. "This university is the first of its kind dedicated exclusively to women. It offers courses that are not traditional or conventional in nature. These courses are more in line with the needs of the job market."

Almana agreed.

"It is my conviction that we should follow the India model. Immediately after attaining independence, the Indians concentrated on professional courses rather than humanities and arts," she said. "The recent turnaround in India is a result of that paradigm shift in education. I recently came back from Bangalore and saw the transformation myself. We should similarly focus on professional studies."

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1. The views/opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the group owners/moderators.

2. This group is for Indians and of Indians who take pride in India's secular and multi-cultural ethos. All of us are followers of Islam as preached and practised by the Last Messenger, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him).

3. This is a family group. Comments made herein are meant exclusively for the group members. Honourable members are, therefore, requested not to forward personal comments in this group to any third party/non-member, unless you have taken permission from the member.

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INDIAN UNION MUSLIM LEAGUE MLAs IN KERALA

2011-05-14T22:13:00.003+05:30

Please see the following link to know the details of the Indian Union Muslim League MLAs elected in the 13th April 2011 assembly electins in Kerala

http://www.indianunionmuslimleague.in/

Assam: Newly elected AIUDF MLAs

2011-05-14T21:35:00.001+05:30

ASSAM : NEWLY ELECTED AIUDF MLAs

1. (Hafiz) Rafiqul Islam (Qasmi)------------------ Jania
2. Aminul Islam-----------------------------------Dhing
3. (Mufti) Abdur Rahman Ajmal------------------Salmara South
4. Sheikh Shah Alam --------.----------------- --Goalpara West
5. Jahan Uddin-----------------------------------Dhubri
6. Moin Uddin Ahmed---------------------------Jaleswar
7. Ali Hossain---------------------------------- -Sarukhetri

8. Abdur Rehman Khan--------------------------Barpeta
9. Monowar Hussain--------------------------- -Goalpara East
10. (Maulana) Ataur Rahman Mazarbhuiya-------Katigora
11. Hafiz Basir Ahmed Qasmi--------------------Bilasipara West
12. Gul Akhtara Begum--------------------------Bilasipara Eest

13. Abul Kalam Azad--------------------------- Bhabanipur
14. Sherman Ali Ahmed-------------------------Baghbar

15. Swapan Kar ------------------------------- Lumding
16. Mazibur Rahman----------------------------Rupohihat

17. Gopi Nath Das -----------------------------Boko
18. Mohammed Sirajuddin Ajmal---------------Jamunamukh

NB 17 of AIUDF Candidates were second

Total Candidates 75

IAS EXAM.2010 SUCCESSFUL MUSLIM CANDIDATES

2011-05-12T19:27:00.000+05:30

IAS EXAM 2010: SUCCESSFUL MUSLIM CANDIDATES

By V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

There is no dearth of meritorious candidates among Muslims. If properly guided and helped, they can shine and achieve their goals. The results of the Civil Services (Main) Examination 2010 announced recently show that there are 31 Muslim names in the list of 920 successful candidates. It should please the Muslim community even though their share is only 3.36%. It is not known how many Muslim candidates appeared for the exam.

5,47,698 candidates appeared for the preliminary exam held in May 2010. Out of this 920 candidates - 717 men and 203 women – made the grade.

The following ‘gems’ who have come out successful with all their best efforts deserve kudos from one and all as they have brought laurels to themselves, their families and their community which is educationally and economically marginalized. We should not forget that God helps only those who help themselves.

1. Tariq Thomas

2. Mannan Akthar

3. Mir Mohammed Ali

4. Danish Ashraf

5. Mohammed Imran

6. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah

7. Zafar Ajmal Kidwai

8. Adil Khan

9. Mohammed Ali Shihab A

10. Abid Khan

11. Anam Benish

12. Posu Babu Alli

13. Ahteshamur Rahman Khan

14. Gulzar Ahmed Wani

15. Riyaz Iqbal

16. Sajeetha Begum

17. Ilyas K.P.A.

18. Anjum Ara

19. N. Mohammed Ali

20. Shaikh Amin Khan Yasin Khan

21. Sahil Seth

22. Syed Wasif Haider

23. Mohsina Tabassum

24. Abid Hussain Sadiq

25. Ahmed Muyeen Farooqui

26. Imran Ahmed Siddiqui

27. Mohd Yakoob Shekha

28. Jusuf Kabir Ansari

29. Mohd Aijaz

30. Shiraz Daneshyar

31. Azhar Jamal

We congratulate all the successful candidates and wish them all the best in all their future endeavours.

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IMPORTANCE OF LEATHER FAIRS IN THE PRESENT MARKET

2011-05-07T11:50:00.000+05:30

IMPORTANCE OF LEATHER FAIRS IN THE PRESENT MARKET

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

CHENNAI: The APLF leather fair held in Hong Kong from 30th March to 1st April 2011 and the LINEAPELLE leather fair held from 6th to 8th April 2011 in Bologna, Italy received the best attention of exhibitors and visitors this time. It is reported that most of those who attended the fairs were serious about their “business” – the purpose for which they had gone there. It seems that the unexpected huge demand for leathers from different importing countries, limited availability of raw hides and skins and their increasing prices, customers’ stipulations for prompt execution of contracts, etc. were responsible for it. They were also seen in seminars taking keen interest and searching for new trends and innovations etc. In other words the excursion type of leather fair trips has turned out to be serious business trips.

The fairs were very useful to the participants in understanding the happenings in the world leather market, making future plans and programmes and concluding contracts. A participant pointed out, “the days of easy business are gone and we have to be more alert now”.

According to available information there was good demand for kip and calf leathers from many overseas customers and business were concluded at different prices depending on the quality and selection. While some lining items were sold at around US$1.75 some other articles meant for leather goods were sold up to US$3.00 per sq.ft. C&F. As far as goat and sheep leathers are concerned, customers showed interest for the regular items of upper and lining leathers at almost unchanged prices. Indian exporters feel that China which is the biggest market for leather and footwear is a big threat to them.

Leather exporters are reluctantly making offers even to their regular buyers due to difficulty in procuring raw skins. It is learnt that their quotations are as follows:

1. S/C goat kid suede leather for shoes, 3/5 sq.ft. per piece, 0.6/0.8 mm, ABC, US$2.10 per sq.ft. by air.

2. F/C goat milled leather, 4/7 sq.ft. per piece, 0.6/0.8 mm, ABC, US$1.95 per sq.ft. by air.

3. F/C and S/C goat lining leathers, 4/7 or 5/8 sq.ft. per piece, 0.6/0.8 mm, TR-1/2/3, US$1.30/1.20/1.10 per sq.ft. C&F by sea

4. F/C sheep suede leather, 4/7 sq.ft. per piece, 0.6/0.8 mm, ABC, US$2.50 per sq.ft. C&F by air and DE, US$1.75 per sq.ft. C&F by air.

5. F/C sheep lining leather, 4/7 sq.ft. per piece, 0.5/0.7 mm, TR-1/2/3, US$1.50/1.40/1.30 per sq.ft. C&F by sea.

Both wet blue and tanned goat skins are scarce in the local market as arrivals are limited and buyers plenty. An exporter said, “If the present situation continues, the day will not be far off when big exporters will have to think of starting their own animal farms to meet the demand”. Leather and leather products exporters are operating in the market and grain, suede and lining selections are their interest. They have to pay somewhat higher prices demanded by suppliers now. The transactions are also mostly for cash payments and many small financiers who operate in the market take advantage of this.

Some business were reported in tanned goat skins 3/5 or 4/7, grain selection at around Rs. 60/, suede selection at around Rs.47/- and lining selections A/B/C at around Rs.36/35/34 per sq. ft. Some better varieties fetched even higher prices. Demand continues for all these and many other items and selections including Rejection unabated. Prices of F/C crust goat skins were also at around these prices.

Market was firm even in other tanning centres like Vaniyambadi, Erode, Dindigul etc. Exporters of leather and leather products are everywhere to cover their requirements. (VMK in Indian Leather, May 2011)

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Aligarh Muslim University to reopen from 16th May 2011 in a phased manner

2011-05-06T06:15:00.001+05:30

It is reported that Aligarh Muslim University will reopen from 16th May 2011in a phased manner according to a decision taken at a meeting called by the Vice-Chancellor, Mr. P.K. Abdul Aziz on Thursday evening.

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mr. Dorjee Khandu is dead: Indian Express report

2011-05-05T06:51:00.001+05:30

http://expressbuzz.com/nation/dorjee-khandu-dead-in-chopper-crash/271435.html

Dorjee Khandu dead in chopper crash

PTIFirst Published : 04 May 2011 02:00:35 PM ISTLast Updated : 04 May 2011 08:41:41 PM IST

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who went missing on Saturday on a flight from Tawang, is dead along with four others after their helicopter crashed in bad weather in the mountains and their bodies and the wreckage were located on Wednesday.

The five, including two pilots, who took off in a single-engined Euro Copter B8 of Pawan Hans, perished in the crash and the bodies and wreckage of the chopper were spotted in a place between Kyela and Lobothang in the mountainous region of the state this morning.

"The Chief Minister and four others are dead," Union Minister for Development of Northeastern Region B K Handique told a press conference here this evening.

The other occupants of the helicopter were pilots Capt J S Babbar, Capt T S Mamik, Khandu's security officer Yeshi Choddak and Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawant MLA Tsewang Dhondup.

This is the second death of a Chief Minister in two years after the death of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash in the Nallamalla ranges in the state in September 2009.

There was also another crash involving a Pawan Hans helicopter a fortnight ago in Arunachal mountains in which 17 people were killed.

Twice Chief Minister of this north eastern state, 56-year-old Khandu, who belongs to Monpa tribe, leaves four wives, four sons and two daughters.

Khandu had worked in the military intelligence and participated in the Bangladesh liberation war of 1971. He had received a gold medal for meritorious service during the war.

Handique said operations for recovery of the bodies were on and would continue through the night and, if necessary, tomorrow morning.

Bodies will be picked up one after the other and transported. A decision will be taken whether to bring them to Tawang or to Itanagar, he said.

Handique had earlier in the day said a relative of 56-year-old Khandu, who has been Chief Minister twice, and a panchayat leader from his constituency identified his body.

The panchayat leader Thupten from Kyela village of Khandu's Mukto constituency, first informed an official Rinchin of his sighting the body which was passed on Tawang Deputy Commissioner Hamli Padu, who alerted the army base at Kyela, Handique reporters here.

Handique said a state mourning will be declared once the body of the Chief Minister is recovered.

Handique said the Chief Minister's body would lie in state in his home here for people to pay their last respects and full honours would be accorded to it.

To a question about a successor to Khandu, he said he would be named at an appropriate time.

Asked whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi would be making a visit here, he said they would get in touch with them once all formalities are finalised.

The Minister said all the bodies were lying in a deep gorge in Kyela near Luguthang at an altitude of 4,500 metres about 6 hours by foot from Luguthang Gompa in Tawang district.

"The process may continue till morning and the bodies one by one will be flown from Luguthang in a IAF Chetak helicopter to Tawang from where it will be flown to Itanagar most likely tomorrow with the consent of family members in a big chopper," he said.

Earlier in the morning in Delhi, Home Minister P Chidambaram gave hints of bad tidings when he said information is "not encouraging and not good news". He spoke about helicopters locating the site of the crash and sighting of bodies.

Later in the evening, in his second update to the reporters he said, "From whatever I can piece together the information from the information given by the villagers and assuming it to be true, I am afraid the news is grim and sad."

Giving details, he said some villagers had reportedly reached the site of the crash of a helicopter and communicated to the control room in Itanagar that they had identified two bodies while three were charred beyond recognition.

"These are interrupted communications by villagers who have reached the site. But no official of the government, army or police has been able to reach there," he said.

"It may take several hours for any of these officials to reach the spot because it is about five kilometres from Kyela," Chidambaram said.

He said a Cheetah helicopter, which flew over the site, was also able to locate the debris of a crashed helicopter and some bodies lying there.

"We are trying to land another Cheetah from Lubuthang," the Home Minister said, adding a team of the government to reach the accident site which is about 5 kms from Kyela.

Handique said honouring the wishes of people, Khandu's body would be brought here and kept in his bungalow for the people to pay their last respects.

Muslim ulema welcome the killing of Osama bin Laden by USA as terror cannot be justified in Islam

2011-05-03T06:27:00.002+05:30

http://twocircles.net/2011may02/muslim_clerics_welcome_killing_osama.html

Obama on the killing of Osama bin Laden

2011-05-03T05:56:00.004+05:30

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNYmK19-d0U

AMU shut down indefinitely after violent clashes

2011-05-01T11:02:00.000+05:30

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/AMU-shut-down-indefinitely-after-students-scuffle/articleshow/8125813.cms

District admin shuts AMU after student groups clash

Sameer Arshad, TNN
May 1, 2011, 04.29am IST

Aligarh Muslim UniversityAMU shut down indefinitely after violent clashesALIGARH: District authorities shut down Aligarh Muslim University until further orders on Saturday after eight students were injured in clashes between two student groups over demands for the removal of a senior AMUofficial a day earlier.

Officials blamed regional fault lines for the clashes but the students union accused proctor Mujahid Beg of orchestrating unrest to have controller of examinations, Pervez Mustajav, removed. A student leader, pleading anonymity fearing disciplinary action, said Beg had got the proctor's post using the same tactics.

"Beg wants to control admissions and that is why he stage-managed the clash at Mustajav's office to have him removed," the student leader said. He said Beg allegedly took the proctor's post so that he could be on the university executive council and have a say in admissions. Beg also got his sister-in-law appointed as finance officer bending rules, he alleged.

Beg promised to respond to the allegations but disconnected TOI's repeated calls to his mobile phone.

Aligarh SSP Man Singh Chauhan said a Bihari and an Azamgari group had clashed and that cops would arrest anti-social elements among students after the campus is closed. The two groups came face-to-face again on Friday and an argument degenerated into a fierce clash. The rival groups fired at each other.

The university has been closed sine die thrice during Azis's tenure marred by accusations of several
irregularities.

AMU spokesman Rahat Abrar said the university was closed after an advisory from the district administration. "The administration warned that arms were being stored inside some of the hostels and told us that action cannot be taken without closing the university," said Abrar. He said the university also feared more clashes since it was a residential institution where 70% students live on campus. Authorities asked the students to vacate their hostels within 48 hours and postponed examinations.

Vice-chancellor P K Abdul Azis blamed union elections for creating regional hostility and sowing seeds of hatred. He said frequent clashes have been reported among regional groups since then. The students started organizing themselves on regional lines after the results were declared and (this) aggravated the situation. The pre-election rivalry continued and became more pronounced with time.

He accused student leaders of taking the law into their hands and creating anarchy. Azis said they keep barging into university offices. "I would talk to the students and ensure the campus remains peaceful."

Azis, who had opposed union elections and relented only under pressure from students, said the university will be reopened shortly and exams rescheduled.

The Aligarh Muslim University

2011-05-01T07:27:00.000+05:30

The Aligarh Muslim University has been closed indefinitely after clashes between two groups of students.

AKBARUDDIN OWAISI SAFE AFTER ATTACK

2011-04-30T17:21:00.000+05:30

http://m.thehindu.com/news/national/article1980710.ece/?secid=2781

The Hindu report:

Akbaruddin Owaisi safe after attack

30 April 2011, Special Correspondent

MIM supporters throng the Owaisi Hospital at Kanchanbagh after party MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi was shot at in the Old City of Hyderabad on Saturday . Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

Tension escalated in the old city areas as followers of the Majlis legislator gathered at the Owaisi hospital where a profusely bleeding Mr Owaisi was rushed after the attack.

The condition of Akbaruddin Owaisi, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen legislator from Chandrayangutta, who was injured after being shot at, was declared to be out of danger at the Owaisi Hospital on Saturday afternoon. Doctors operated upon him and removed two bullets from his body.

Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi was shot at by assailants suspected to be belonging to a group led by Mohammed Pehlwan at Barkas in the morning. Ibrahim Ali, 25, suspected to be one of the assailants, was shot dead by the gunman of another MLA who was travelling in Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi’s jeep.

Tension has eased in the old city areas after police made repeated announcements about the safe condition of Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi.

Chief Minsiter N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Home Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy along with DGP K. Aravinda Rao rushed to the Owaisi Hospital.

It now emerged that a group of nine assailants attacked Akabaruddin Owaisi’s vehicle in which another MIM legislator Balala and some others were travelling at Barkas. They hit the jeep with a scooter and as it screeched to a halt, the assailants wielding swords attacked the passengers who included Akbaruddin Owaisi, another legislator Balala and other some others, police said quoting preliminary reports.

The gunman of Mr. Balala was reported to have opened fire in which three assailants sustained bullet injuries. They were rushed to Yashoda hospital in Malakpet where one of them, identified as Abdullah died. Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi had refused to take protection from the police department, sources said.

Following the attack, a large number of people gathered at the Owaisi Hospital. Traffic flow was disrupted on the Santoshnagar main road after agitated MIM workers targeted some RTC buses. However, situation returned to normalcy as news about safe condition of Akbaruddin Owaisi was released by hospital authorities.

Asaduddin Owaisi, MP, and elder brother of Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi air-dashed to Hyderabad from Delhi. Mr. Asaduddin Owaisi is also the president of the AIMIM, which has won seven MLAs in Andhra Pradesh.

DR. ZAKIR NAIK SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2011

2011-04-27T10:40:00.000+05:30

DR. ZAKIR NAIK SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2011:

United Islamic Aid IRF Educational Scholarship based on Islamic Knowledge, taqwa and merit is available for Muslim students pursuing courses in Medicine, Engineering, Education, Management etc. They have allotted Rs.1 crore to be given in scholarships.

The scholarship Application Form is available at the Islamic Research Foundation Office or it can be downloaded from www.irf.net

Written Islamic Exam on Sunday, 29th May 2011 at Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Malegaon, Akola, Delhi, Kolkatta, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.

Scholarship is for:

1. English/Urdu medium students of Maharashtra

2. Only English medium students of rest of India

ISLAMIC FOUNDATION TRUST : TELEPHONE: 022-23736875 (8 LINES)

MUSLIM LEAGUE - A HARBINGER OF AMITY AND COMMUNAL HARMONY

2011-04-18T07:31:00.000+05:30

MUSLIM LEAGUE – A HARBINGER OF AMITY AND COMMUNAL HARMONY

By V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

It will be clear to any political observer in India that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is a highly secular and nationalist party engaged in protecting the rights of minorities particularly Muslims and strengthening the bonds of camaraderie among different linguistic, ethnic and religious people. It is a harbinger of amity and communal harmony. The late Qaede Millat Mohammed Ismail saheb who was elected as its President when it was formed after the partition of country in 1947 is still the soul of the party. It is the main representative body of Indian Muslims thanks to the efforts taken by the Muslim League leaders in Kerala and Tamil Nadu during the past more than 60 years.

All trusted Qaede Millat Mohammed Ismail saheb fully and the Kerala and Tamil Nadu units more so. The Kerala unit of the IUML wanted him to be its representative in the Parliament of India. He was elected to the Parliament from the Manjeri constituency in Kerala three times in 1962, 67 and 71 as an IUML candidate without even going to the constituency for electioneering. He went there only to file his nomination papers. The electorates who respected him immensely exercised their franchise in his favour and he always came out successful with a big margin of more than one lakh votes. He was secular and patriotic to the core. He asked people to follow the verse of the holy Quran: “hold tight to the rope of God and be not divided among yourselves” – Watasimu bihablillahi jameeaun walaa tafarraqoo”.

When Pakistan started a war with India in 1965, Qaede Millat while delivering a speech in the Parliament expressed his desire to send his only son Mr. Mia Khan to the battle field to fight against Pakistan. After the creation of Pakistan, he had asked the Pakistani leaders not to interfere in the internal affairs of our country India and bid adieu to them.

When the issue of national language came for discussion in the Parliament, he pleaded that his mother tongue Tamil, a rich language in all respects, should be made the national language. He was secular and patriotic to the core. He was instrumental in bringing the Muslim community on a single platform particularly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu and making them realise the importance of unity and integrity in accordance with the Islamic dictate.

Qaede Millat echoed his voice against all kinds of injustice and encouraged righteousness from whichever quarter it came. His contribution in bringing the DMK to power in Tamil Nadu cannot be forgotten. The trio – Mr. C. Annadurai (Anna), Mr. C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) and Mr. Mohammed Ismail (Qaede Millat) joined together and created history in 1967 when the DMK attained power for the first time and the then DMK chief Mr. C. Annadurai became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. He was the first member of a Dravidian party to hold that post and was also the first non-Congress leader to form a majority government in Independent India. It was not on expected lines but the late founder leader of the DMK , Anna made it possible with the support of the above mentioned two leaders. The gift of the gab that he and his young and energetic colleagues like the present DMK chief Dr. Kalaignar Mr. M. Karunanidhi and others possessed helped them in presenting the DMK party ideology to the people in a convincing and befitting manner and winning their hearts. Muslims have been co-operating with them from day one of the DMK. Though EVR was an atheist, he used to address Meeladun Nabi functions praising Islam and Islamic ideology of equality and brotherhood. He had even written a book titled “Manitha kulam waazay Islamay Nal Wazhi (Islam is the right path for the progress of mankind)

Muslims particularly students in places even like Ambur rushed to the book stalls every week end to buy periodicals like Mani Vilakku, Muslim Murasu, Pirai, Tamil Nadu ( Tamizhnadu), Home Land, Murasoli, Thenral, Manram etc. which were brought out by Muslim and Dravidian intellectuals and leaders. The language they used and the matters they discussed were very meaningful and captivating. For example Dr. Kalaignar’s alliterative language, Mr. Kannadasan’s poetic expressions and Mr. Abdul Samad’s sweet and power packed artistry mesmerized readers like me.

Though the subject under discussion is different I mention all this to say the fact that the people connected with Dravida movements and Islam have been working together in social and political fields of activity. It is heartening to note that even today the same camaraderie exists among Muslim League and DMK leaders and followers. Insha Allah it will continue as it is based more on ideology and less on politics. Political connections may change but not ideological.

Coming to the main issue, the Muslim League has never failed to protect the causes dearer to the Muslim community, i. e. Muslim personal law, minority rights in educational institutions, reservation, safe-guard for Urdu, Arabic and Persian, etc. Even today prof. K.M. Kader Mohideen, who is the President of the Tamil Nadu unit of the Muslim League is protecting the interest of the Muslim community well. The 3.5% reservation for Muslims in education and employment sanctioned by the DMK government at the instance of the Muslim League is paying good dividends. The lacunae found in its implementation are brought to the notice of the Hon’ble TN Chief Minister and he has set up a high level committee headed by the State Chief Secretary to monitor its effective implementation. He has also announced accepting the Muslim League demand for increasing the reservation to 5% that it would be considered positively at the earliest. Muslims strongly believe that they will get this benefit as he is a better administrator and a trustworthy leader who understands their feelings and respects their sentiments.

Even in the present election scenario, the Muslim League’s large heartedness in coming forward to accept two constituencies instead of three allotted already to accommodate another political party is a testimony to the fact that it is a cooperative and dependable ally. That it got three seats later is a different matter. Now the three Muslim League candidates Mr. H. Abdul Basith, Mr. M. Mohammed Sheik Dawood and Mr. Althaf Hussain are contesting in three assembly constituencies Vaniyambadi, Nagappattinam and Chennai Harbour respectively. Insha Allah they will come out successful along with other candidates of the DMK alliance.

The message the Muslim League conveys is simple and crystal clear. That is – unity is strength. It will not be possible for any community to attain a better position in society unless it is united and works to achieve what it wants in the educational, economical and political arena in the present highly competitive and materialistic world. (VMK in The Times of League, Chennai)

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AMBUR OPEN 2 EXHIBITION

2011-04-13T11:51:00.004+05:30

AMBUR TRADE CENTRE, AMBUR

AMBUR OPEN 2: the exhibition of Footwear Components, Accessories and Finished Leather will take place on 9^th and 10^th July 2011 at the Ambur Trade Centre, Ambur.

For details ISF or IFCOMA can be contacted

LEATHER MARKET IS FIRM WITH MORE DEMAND AND LESS SUPPLY

2011-04-12T07:26:00.002+05:30

LEATHER MARKET IS FIRM WITH MORE DEMAND AND LESS SUPPLY

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

The leather market is firm with more demand and less supply in Periamet (Chennai) and other centres like Ambur, Vaniyambadi, Ranipet, Melvisharam, Pernambut etc. All items - goat, sheep , kip and calf leathers - are on the move. In the Periamet market shoe manufacturers are showing good interest for tanned goat skins Run selection at around Rs.60/- whereas Fifth and Inf.Fifth selections are in demand at around Rs. 50/- and 45/- per sq.ft. respectively. Tanned goat All Suedes are sold at around Rs. 42 and goat Linings A/B/C have continuous demand at around Rs. 36/35/34 per sq.ft. The general feeling in the market is that leather and shoe manufacturers are not able to get the quantity they require in these items. They have to book in advance with tanners for their requirements. The present time is peculiar in the sense that it is out and out a seller’s market.

In Vaniyambadi which is a good market for wet blue, crust and finished sheep leathers like nappa we can see increased number of customers purchasing these items at varying prices depending on the selection and quality. Imported skins are also available here. There are many tanners who import wet blue goat and sheep skins from countries like Switzerland, Nigeria, Saudia Arabia, Egypt, etc. Even import prices have gone up considerably.

In Erode also which is a popular centre for wet blue cow hides, shoe manufacturers continue to buy their requirements with much difficulty as they have to bargain a lot for prices even with regular suppliers who on the other hand regret their inability to supply at old prices due to abnormal increase in prices of raw hides at different centres in the country.

When I asked a leading exporter the reason for this state of affairs in the leather market, he said, “I don’t think there is any abnormal demand for leather and leather products in the international market at higher prices. The main reason for it is the work pressure in factories and fear complex among particularly new exporters that they may not be able to get raw hides and skins they require to fulfill their obligations”. Of course it remains to be seen what happens in the future.

EXPORT OFFERS FOR FINISHED LEATHER

Chennai exporters are quoting hihger prices for various items of finished leather. F/C goat upper leathers for shoes, 4/7 sq. ft. ABC, are quoted at around US$2.20 and D/E/F at around US$1.80/170/160 per sq.ft. In the S/C and F/C goat lining leathers which have good demand abroad the present prices, quoted by tanners for 3/5 or 4/7 sq.ft. TR-1/2/3, are US$1.30/1.20/1.10 per sq.ft. However it is learnt that overseas customers are mostly reluctant to pay these prices but exporters here say that they have no other option as prices of raw skins, chemicals, wattle extract, labour charges etc. have gone up and apart from this availability of raw skins is also limited at all raw skin centres in the country.

JAPAN TRAGEDY

The recent earthquake tragedy occurred in Japan has paralysed the normal life beyond our imagination in some areas in Japan. The valiant Japanese who are reputed the world over for their straightforward and honest dealings are endeavouring their best to cope up with the situation and regain what has been lost. They will achieve it. As far as the leather industry is concerned, it is not known if it has been affected and if so to what extent. However leading exporters say that there will not be any big change in their dealings with our country and in their export and import policy.

HONG KONG AND BALOGNA LEATHER FAIRS

As usual tanners and shoe manufacturers are participating in the Hong Kong based Asia Pacific Leather Fair (from 30th March to 1st April 2011) and the Bologna based Lineapelle leather fair (from 6th to 8th April 2011) This time due to the market position explained above it has become necessary for them more than ever before to meet their regular customers during these two fairs and prepare their future export and import plans. Leather and leather products exporters who have entered into big export contracts are in a dilemma as covering their requirements of raw hides and skins has become a Himalayan task at present.

(Indian Leather, April 2011)

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BADER SAYEED SPEAKS TO TWOCIRCELS.NET

2011-04-08T07:07:00.000+05:30

http://twocircles.net/2011apr07/%E2%80%9Cmay_be_she_has_better_plan_mind_me%E2%80%9D_bader_sayeed.html?nocache=1#comment-202154

WORLD CUP 2011 IS OURS

2011-04-04T06:02:00.000+05:30

WORLD CUP 2011 IS OURS

By Azhar Mohammed K

Finally after 28 years of long wait, India has done it again. It was a combination of experience, talent and strong determination that has resulted in India lifting the World Cup 2011 at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. India outclassed its opposition in all formats of the game. Be it fielding, batting or bowling, they struck to the basics and delivered when needed. It was good to see such a united side backing each other at tense situations. Dhoni, the cool minded captain proved once again that he has the midas touch with him. A balanced innings from him in the final saw India through to winning the cup and the ultimate glory that each cricketing nation had been eager to achieve for the past 6 weeks.

This victory is definitely a team effort as we see contributions coming from nearly all Indian players. Indian team members dedicated this victory to master blaster Sachin Tendulkar who has been so consistent throughout the tournament and finished as the second highest run getter in the tournament. Zaheer Khan bowled his heart out, got necessary break throughs at times and finished being the highest wicket taker in the tournament along with Shahid Afridi (21 wickets). Yuvraj Singh, the man of the tournament, and four times man of the match proved himself to be a perfect all-rounder contributing both with bat and ball. There were excellent contributions from all other players also. Young guns of India, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan and Suresh Raina with their disciplined innings have proved that India has a bright future ahead. There were also good contributions from Harbhajan Singh and Munaf Patel and not to forget the man behind the scenes, the Indian coach, Gary Kirsten who was always there with the team giving continuous support and sharing his vast experience. He made India the number one team in the test side a few months back and now India is numero uno in the ODI as well.

The emotions shown by the players in the field after the victory had a story to tell. It showed their hard work done and their determination to achieve the goal. It was wonderful to see ‘Sachin’ and ‘Kirsten’ being carried on the field on the shoulders of Gambhir and Raina as a tribute to them.

It is definitely a very proud moment for we Indians as the cup is finally ours. This moment will be cherished always by all cricketing fans. This moment has gone down to history as one of the finest cricketing performances and Dhoni and co will always be remembered when cricket is spoken of. May Indian cricket team continue to achieve new peaks in the days to come and retain this terrific form of winning. Jai Ho!

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AMBUR TRADE CENTRE - EXCELLENT FACILITY FOR FAIRS AND CONCLAVES

2011-03-23T07:27:00.001+05:30

Excellent Facility for Fairs and Conclaves

By V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

AMBUR TRADE CENTRE

The Ambur Trade Centre (ATC) inaugurated here last July is proving to be an excellent facility for organization of leather and leather goods fair. The fully air-conditioned complex which has a floor space area of nearly 40,000 sq. feet has begun hosting leather related exhibitions, conferences and events.

The Centre constructed at the cost of Rs.11.5 crore with the initiative by the Ambur Economic Development Organisation (Aedol) Chairman Mr. Mecca Rafeeque Ahmed is playing an important role for the development of the leather and leather products industry. The very first two-day Exhibition of Footwear Components, Accessories & Finished Leather was held in the premises in soon after inauguration of the Centre last year. It was built under the aegis of Ambur Economic Development Organisation (AEDOL) with contributions from the Government of India and the Industry and was inaugurated by Mr. K. Alauddin, Principal Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu. Besides convention centre, conference hall, training and testing centres, e-readiness centre, it has guest rooms for the visiting entrepreneurs and overseas customers.

The Aedol is a joint venture by Vanitec and Amburtec, the two organizations that look after the recycling of effluents from the tanneries in Vaniyambadi and Ambur, two towns hosting several tanneries, leather finishing units and factories producing leather goods and shoes. The Government of India sanctioned Rs.67.33 crore with its subsidy of Rs.43.93 crore for the two projects. The two towns are situated around 200 kms west of Chennai.

Vellore district of Tamil Nadu hosts clusters manufacturing a wide range of leather and leather products as per international standards. They provide direct employment to more than 60,000 people and indirect employment to another 30,000 people mostly from the economically weaker sections of the rural society. They export material worth about Rs.3,500 crore annually. This apart they also meet a sizeable domestic demand within the country.

According to Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed, Ambur, one of the major leather clusters in Tamil Nadu which has been recognized as “Town of Export Excellence“ for leather products will get additional support and incentives for the development of the industry to enable it to increase its exports. (VMK in Islamic Voice, March 2011)

HAJ PILGRIMAGE 2011

2011-03-10T05:50:00.000+05:30

It is learnt that applications are available at all Haj committees for Haj 2011. Those who want to perform Haj during this year are requested to submit their applications. Applications can be submitted from 16th April to 30th April 2011.

DR. ZAKIR NAIK DID NOT INTERPRET ANYTHING.

2011-03-08T07:30:00.002+05:30

After reading the letter of Mr. A. Faizur Rahman under heading "Shun Intolerance" in The Hindu dated 5th March 2010, I viewed the you tube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzc_jhaWxw0 referred to by him. In my opinion the writer has distorted what Dr. Zakir Naik answered to a question and blamed him.It is not fair. Dr. Zakir Naik did not interpret anything at all. One also feels that publication of such letters will not serve any purpose. The Hindu is a secular and national daily reputed for its careful coverage of news and views. It should not have published this letter. You can yourself view the video and decide. Mr. A. Faizur Rahman is not correct in blaming Dr. Zakir Naik on this issue.

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman,

I entirely agree with Kasim Sait (Letters, March 4) when he says that the contrarian view of intolerance in Islam is strengthened by interpretations of televangelists such as Zakir Naik. According to Naik, a renegade from Islam who converts to another religion should be killed if he propagates that religion because it amounts to “causing corruption”, “spreading things which are unpeaceful” and hence, treason (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzc_jhaWxw0, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMAZR8YIhxI).

The truth is that there is absolutely nothing in the Koran or the authentic teachings of the Prophet that supports Zakir Naik's definition of treason. Preachers like him need to be reminded of the Prophet's warning; eeyakum wal ghulu fiddeen, fa innahu ahlaka man kaana qablakum al ghulu fiddeen which translates as; “Eschew extremism in religion, for extremism has destroyed its practitioners in the past (Ibn Maaja).”

A. Faizur Rahman
Chennai

26TH IILF 2011 : A BRIEF REPORT

2011-03-08T07:21:00.001+05:30

26th IILF 2011: A BRIEF REPORT

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

Although there is no dearth of leather fairs on international level, it is only 4 or 5 fairs which are considered the most important and worth participating every year. The India International Leather Fair (IILF) is one of them. The 26th IILF 2011 held from 31st January to 3rd February 2011 with a gala inauguration by Mr. Virbhadra Singh, the hon’ble Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Government of India and presided over by Dr. Subas Pani, Chairman & Managing Director, India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) at the Chennai Trade Centre in Chennai was a well improved and well organized one with approximately 18,000 sq.mts. gross area and over 400 exhibitors from home and abroad with all their glittering paraphernalia.

Mr. Salman Khurshid, Hon’ble Union Minister of Water Resources and Minority Affairs, Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, Chairman, Council for Leather Exports, Dr. Rahul Khullar, Commerce Secretary, Government of India and Mr. Uday Kumar Varma, Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Government of India, Mr. A.B. Mandal, Director, Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, Mr. Ali Ahmed Khan, Executive Director, Council for Leather Exports, Chennai were among the dignitaries present on the dais and spoke on the occasion.

Mr. Mandal stressed the need for achieving global leadership by utilizing our country India’s abundant resources in terms of skilled manpower, raw material, design techniques, entrepreneurial skills and investing substantially in the tanning sector for implementing modernization schemes, improving productivity and rationalizing labour policies. Mr. Ali Ahmed Khan explained that the Council had been taking a lot of market promotion efforts to increase India’s share in the global leather trade and had been actively promoting Buyer-Seller meets at various locations worldwide.

The hon’ble Ministers Mr. Virbhadra Singh and Mr. Salman Khurshid assured the leather industry of their “supportive measures” to make it more competitive in the world market. Dr. Subas Pani said that the leather industry should attain the status like the software and auto sectors.

The CLE Chairman, Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed was felicitated in the function for the prestigious Padma Shri award conferred on him. Mr. M. Mohammed Hashim, an industrialist and former Chairman, Council for Leather Exports who delivered the felicitation address paid high tributes to him and said that he deserved it well for his excellent service for the development of the leather industry. The audience cheered the Padma Shri awardee with a standing ovation.

Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed expressed his thanks for the felicitation and said that the leather and leather products registered consistent growth in the past several years and reached US$ 3.40 billion during 2009-10 recording cumulative growth rate of about 5.43% in last 5 years. He was optimistic of the industry having the potential to achieve the turnover target of $8.25 billion by 2013-14 if the government extended additional support in necessary areas. He talked about the necessity of “mega leather clusters” on the lines of those in the handloom and power loom sectors and constituting a Rs.100 crore corpus for skill upgrade in the leather sector.

Mr. S.M. Shahid of M/s. Zam Zam Tanners, Kanpur was specially honoured with the “Doyen of Leather Industry Award” for his contribution towards development of Indian leather industry.

A total of 62 member-exporters belonging to the leather and leather products and other categories were honoured for their export performance for the year 2009-10. The hon’ble Ministers Mr. Virbhadra Singh and Mr. Salman Khurshid presented the Awards to them.

The seminars organized by the IFLMEA and CLE on the following subjects were useful to the participants.

1. Brand Building through Design

2. Carbon Footprint

3. Environmental Audit

4. Sustainable Leather Management

5. New Development in Antifungal Process

6. Is it time to measure time? – Introducing work measurement-improving efficiency and

7. Process Innovations & Lean Six Sigma to reduce costs and improve efficiency.

There were mostly overseas exporters of leather, chemicals, machinery and equipment among the exhibitors. Many Chennai based leading exporters of leather and leather products were conspicuous by their absence for the reasons best known to them. However the forthcoming APLF-MM&T fair to be held at Hong Kong from 30th March to 1st April 2011 will attract these and many more exporters as usual. Many are getting ready to participate in it. It is the wish of many tanners that the IILF should achieve the status the Hong Kong and Paris fairs have got.

No doubt the fair provided an excellent opportunity for the visitors and participants to meet, discuss and plan their marketing and development strategies in accordance with the demand of the present time. Although it was interesting, charming and entertaining, it looked like a routine affair – a stereotype - without any new additions. Everything was on expected lines. Many in the industry feel that the organizers would do well to:

1. attract more leather and leather products importing companies to the fair as in the cases of the Hong Kong and Paris fairs, if necessary with some attractive offers.

2. initiate some Indian cultural programmes in the evening to entertain visitors and participants from different countries and also to highlight the rich cultural heritage of our country.

3. arrange a valedictory function with a detailed report of the fair.

to make the IILF more glamorous and beneficial for all sections of the people.

(VMK in Indian Leather, March 2011 issue)

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ARAB NEWS EDITORIAL : WOMEN'S DAY

2011-03-08T07:09:00.001+05:30

Editorial: Women’s Day

While the government can change the rules, it cannot change the attitudes of a people

Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day — and, as readers will have noticed, Arab News is observing it.

Why so? Because men control the world and its resources. Women do not. International Women’s Day was founded to focus on an end to discrimination, to ensure the rights of women to be trained, work (and in any job they chose), vote, have public office and have a voice that is heard and respected.

That International Women’s Day is still being observed is because discrimination has not ended. That is certainly the case in Saudi Arabia, despite the claims of some that women have full rights in the Kingdom. They do not. Just read Somayya Jabarti’s musings on this page. In the US and Europe, women complain that they are kept out of the decision-making at top level; they want to beak through the glass ceiling. In Saudi Arabia, they are still trying to get a foot through the door on the ground floor.

The discrimination is not just wrong, it is also wasteful. Half the country’s brains and talents are being ignored.

Some justify denying women the right to drive or work on the grounds that they need to be protected. Protected from whom? If from men, the answer is to punish those men who would abuse them. Others justify it in terms of Islam. Yet Khadija, the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was a successful businesswoman. She was his support. Those who reject women in business effectively challenge the Sunnah of the Prophet. But they apparently think themselves better and wiser Muslims than those in the rest of the Muslim world where women drive, run businesses without a male guardian, enter politics, become ministers.

The objection is not based in Islam, it is based in outmoded cultural traditions.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is a key supporter of improving women’s role in Saudi society. New women’s universities and colleges are springing up. Women are being provided ever more work opportunities; a woman minister has been appointed; women are entering the diplomatic service. But while the government can change the rules, it cannot change attitudes. That is something Saudis must do themselves. The fact is that while men increasingly want a wife who works and brings in an income, too many want one who will simply hand it over but still play the submissive wife.

Just as in Europe and America 100 years ago, there are even Saudi women opposed to change, who fear that change will threaten the one area where they have power —the home.

Women need to empower themselves and start thinking in terms of entitlement. A couple of years ago, at a business forum in the Kingdom, a male speaker refused to give his address until the women in the audience removed themselves. They meekly got up and left. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if they had stayed put.

That is why Women’s Day is important. Its prime purpose is not to celebrate women or their achievements. It is there to focus attention on what women could achieve if they had the right or the ability to do so. When the discrimination finally goes, that will be the time to celebrate, the time that International Women’s Day becomes redundant.

We are nowhere near that yet.

(Courtesy: Arab News)

WEST ASIA MARCHING TOWARDS DEMOCRACY

2011-02-27T11:20:00.000+05:30

West Asia marching towards democracy: speakers

CHENNAI: West Asia is irrevocably marching towards democracy spurred as much by the urge for freedom as disgust over extended dictatorships that have curtailed civil rights and aggravated poverty and unemployment, according to speakers at a seminar here on Friday.

Participants at the seminar on “Where is West Asia heading?” hosted by the ‘Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought Among Muslims,' said the geopolitics of the region would hinge largely on the role Western nations, especially the U.S., played in West Asia.

Asghar Ali Engineer, Chairman, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism, Mumbai, said the remarkable aspect of the mass struggle in Egypt was the exemplary democratic means of agitation that was devoid of religious slogans.

Moosa Raza, Chairman, Southern India Educational Trust, said history was repeating itself in the region where resentment had been simmering for decades over West-backed dictatorial regimes.

P.M. Belliappa, president, Association of British Scholars, said the mass struggles were rooted in issues of bad governance and resulted from failure of authoritarian regimes to apply course correction before disenchanted rank and file forced alternatives.

A. Faizur Rahman, Forum secretary-general, said it was a misconception propagated by some Western analysts that in the absence of authoritarian rulers, the West Asian region would plunge into chaos at the hands of so-called Islamists. It is also untrue to portray Islam as not compatible with democracy as the Islamic society established by the Prophet was democratic in the truest sense, he said.

Zackriah Badsha, Forum president, said the mass struggles were being driven by the urge for freedom.

(The Hindu dated 27th February 2011)

Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Vastanvi wins the battle..........

2011-02-24T07:29:00.000+05:30

Vastanvi wins the battle, but with a caveat

Vidya Subrahmaniam

PTI Darul Uloom Deoband Vice-Chancellor Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi talking to the media after attending a meeting of the Governing Council of the Darul Uloom in Deoband on Wednesday

The Shura asks a panel to look into disturbances following his appointment

Defying escalating rumours of his imminent exit, the embattled Vice-Chancellor of Darul Uloom Deoband, Maulana Ghulam Mohammad Vastanvi, on Wednesday managed to stay on in his post.

However, Mr. Vastanvi's long-term future continues to be in suspense, with the Majlis-e-Shura (governing council of the Islamic seminary) directing a three-member committee to look into the disturbances following his appointment — on the campus as well as outside it. The Shura also nominated Mufti Abul Qasim Nomani (Banarasi) to the vacant post of karguzar mohtamim (working Vice-Chancellor), with the caveat that Mr. Nomani will take over from Mr. Vastanvi in the event the committee ruled against the latter.

Mr. Vastvani himself read out a press statement issued on behalf of the Shura. The import of the statement was that though Mr. Vastanvi offered his resignation to the Shura, the governing council had rejected the offer, and instructed him to continue in his post. Asked how this squared with Shura's subsequent condition that his future depended on the verdict of the committee, Mr. Vastanvi said: “All I will say is that I am the VC and all the rumours and machinations against me could not remove me.” He pointed out that the Shura had rejected his offer of resignation.

The peculiar nature of the Shura's decision appeared to have left both Mr. Vastanvi's followers and opponents unhappy, though each side was quick to proclaim victory. The anti-Vastanvi camp had been on a high through the morning, having psyched itself into believing that the Shura had already decided against the rector. The name of Mr. Nomani was circulated as the new man in. In the event, Mr. Vastanvi's opponents clung to the fact that Mr. Nomani had been named to the post of working VC with the possibility that he could eventually replace Mr. Vastanvi.

The Vastanvi fan club argued that he had retained his post against the toughest odds — goaded by his rivals, sections of the Urdu and the English press had mounted a vicious campaign against him, deliberately twisting his statements to suggest he was pro-Modi and spreading the canard that he had knowingly used Hindu religious symbols. The VC's supporters saw the Shura's decision as an astute balancing act aimed at neutralising his opponents. “The Shura could have simply removed him,” they said.

The day began with Mr. Vastanvi presenting his defence before the 14-member Shura. He said his opponents had calculatedly vitiated the atmosphere on and off the campus through rumours and false propaganda. The rector asked the Shura to appoint a committee to investigate the truth of what really happened following his appointment. He concluded by saying that he had no interest in the VC's post and that he held the dignity of the Darul Uloom to be above his own self-interest.

(Courtesy: The Hindu dated 24th February 2011)

Interview With Maulana Ghulam Ahmad Vastanwi

2011-02-23T05:58:00.001+05:30

http://notesfromsaudiarabia.blogspot.com/2011/02/modi-is-worst-of-worst-wo-zaalim-hai.html

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MAULANA GHULAM AHMED VASTANWI

By Siraj Wahab in Makkah
Published on Feb. 22, 2011

MAULANA Ghulam Ahmad Vastanwi was in Saudi Arabia last week. During his stay in Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah, he met a number of high-ranking officials associated with the Saudi government and such prestigious institutions as the Muslim World League and the World Association of Muslim Youth. Dozens of students who graduated from his seminary and are now studying at the Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah and the Islamic University of Madinah also came to visit and felicitate him.

The maulana was thrust into international limelight following his recent appointment as the rector or muhtamim of South Asia's most prestigious Islamic seminary, Darul Uloom Deoband. More than his appointment, it was his reported remarks about Narendra Modi, the man who led the 2002 anti-Muslim pogrom in Gujarat, which led to an uproar in India and abroad, and calls for his resignation in some quarters.

The Majlis-e-Shoura of Darul Uloom Deoband is meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 23, to discuss his fate. It might rule in his favor or it may ask him to step aside in view of the raging controversy. Maulana Vastanwi spoke to this correspondent at the Marwa Towers in Makkah, a few steps from the Grand Mosque. As I tap on the iPad to record the maulana's interview I notice the impressive Kaaba from the glass window of his room. Sitting next to him is his youngest son Uwais Vastanwi. Following are the excerpts from the interview:

Q: How long have you been associated with Darul Uloom Deoband?

A: Darul Uloom Deoband is the oldest Muslim religious institution in Asia. It has played a key role in South Asia's history. It was established by some of the greatest Muslim leaders. It was started to preserve our religion in South Asia and its founders succeeded in their mission. Any order issued by Deoband is followed by the community in letter and spirit. It is the most important center of religious learning in India and also the most prestigious.

I have been a member of the Deoband Shoura for the last 12 years. The Shoura has 17 members. These 17 members come from all states of India. I represent Maharashtra in the Shoura. All of the Shoura members come from excellent backgrounds. They are chosen on the basis of their work for Islam in their respective regions. All of these members have contributed immensely to the promotion of Islam.

Maulana Marghubur Rahman, who died a few months ago, was the ninth rector of Deoband. He was a great man. He was widely respected by the ulama. Such was his selflessness and devotion to Deoband that he did not take a single penny from the institution that he ran. In fact, he even paid rent for the room in which he stayed. It was Maulana Marghubur Rahman who made me the member of the Shoura 12 years ago. He loved me and I respected him immensely. When he died, it was suggested that I become the acting rector. I did not see myself fit for the post and I politely declined. The Shoura members then persuaded Maulana Abul Qasim Banarasi to become the acting rector. It was a unanimous decision.

A month-and-a-half later the Shoura was convened to elect a new rector. Of the 17 members, four members suggested the name of Maulana Arshad Madani. Two were in favor of the acting rector Maulana Abul Qasim Banarasi. Eight members proposed my name. Three members did not turn up. So it was announced that since eight members are in favor of Maulana Vastanwi he should be made the rector. I objected and said no. I said that if the other members who supported Maulana Arshad Madani and Maulana Abul Qasim Banarasi change their opinion in my favor … only then will I accept this post. I wanted unanimity. They all said yes and added that since most members have now reposed confidence in Vastanwi we too are with him. Everything was settled. A formal announcement was made by the Shoura. There were celebrations. I met with the teachers and other administrative officials and briefed them about various issues concerning the seminary. Students were happy too. I addressed them in the evening. The next day I left for Akkalkuwa where we run a number of madaris and degree colleges.

Q: When did the trouble begin then?

A: As soon as I left Deoband, I got a call that some students were unhappy with my appointment. I was told that they were very few in numbers. Now I don't know who instigated them or who was behind this campaign against me. It came as a shock to me. Just a day earlier everything seemed perfect. The students were happy, the teachers were happy, all Shoura members were happy.

A little later I got a call from the Times of India's Gujarat correspondent. The news was out in the media that I had become the rector of Deoband. He asked me about the Gujarat riots and I told him why was he asking my opinion on something that happened eight years ago. And then I suggested that for us Muslims now education is the most important thing. Our community's focus is education. The report that appeared in the newspaper next day gave an impression that I was supporting Modi and that I gave a clean chit to him. I had told The Times correspondent that cases relating to the 2002 riots are before the courts and it is the duty of the courts to provide justice to the riot victims. I also said that those who are being illegally detained should be released.

Q: But the impression one got from the report was that you have some kind of a soft spot for Modi...

A: Modi is the worst of the worst. Wo zaalim hai ... aur zaalim ki taareef bhi nahin ki ja sakti (he is a cruel man and one is not allowed to appreciate a cruel man). Whatever he did to Muslims we will and we cannot forget that (zaalim ke zulm ko ham maaf bhi nahi kar sakte). Nor can we give him a clean chit. Some people in the media, especially a particular section of the Urdu media, have twisted my statements to create mischief. If you go back to the original report in The Times of India, it is very clearly mentioned that "Vastanwi did not give Modi a clean chit".

Q: There were also reports that Modi invited you as a special guest for Republic Day celebrations in Gujarat?

A: This again was media mischief. Nobody invited me and nor did I go there. This bit of news was absolutely nonsensical. When I first heard it, I immediately issued a clarification. I was in Deoband on Jan. 26.

Q: Those who launched an attack on you are part of our community. They do not belong to other communities. What do you think was their motive? What is your assessment?

A: Whoever has done this mischief of maligning me and whoever is behind this mudslinging campaign ... let me tell them I am not a political man. My work is confined to promoting education. Taalim, taalim aur taalim -- that is my motto and mission. Those who have made an issue out of my reported remarks ... for them, this is a political issue.

Some people took my comments as supporting Modi. Some people saw those statements as anti-Congress. I am not favoring Modi nor am I against Congress. I only say that Muslims work hard in the field of education (musalman apne aap ko taalim me aage laaye). Muslim youngsters are facing unemployment. Our community members are suffering because of stark poverty. I think unless and until we work in the field of education we will not be able to tackle these two major problems facing our community in India: unemployment and poverty.

Q: Can your tell us about your institutions in Akkalkuwa?

A: I completed my early Islamic education at Darul Uloom Falah-e-Darain Tadkeshwar (district Surat, Gujarat). I then worked as an Arabic teacher at Darul Uloom Kantharia (district Bharuch, Gujarat). In 1979 when I was teaching there, we had two students who were from Akkalkuwa, a small hamlet in Maharashtra. At that time, the population of Akkalkuwa may have been 5,000. I am talking about 1980. Muslims were about 50 percent so there were around 2,500 Muslims. At the invitation of those two students (both are now teaching at our institutions) I went to Akkalkuwa in 1980. Wahan kuch nahi tha ... Sirf jahalat thi. There was total ignorance. Muslims were unaware of the teachings of Islam. They were extremely poor. Mosques lay abandoned. No one took care of them. There was no library, no school. So when I visited Akkalkuwa, this thought crossed my mind that I should do something here. Remember, this was just a thought not a dream. Then I wrote to my elders about the situation in Akkalkuwa. They said "baith jaao," start working there. So in 1980 I built a shed that cost us 18,000 rupees. That shed or "jhonpda" still exists today. We started with six students and two teachers -- Maulana Ishaq and Maulana Yaqoob.

Then two residents of Akkalkuwa -- Salman Havaldar and Yaqoob Dada -- each gave us 3 acres of land. So we had six acres. On this six-acre plot we started work in 1983. In two years we got a building constructed. Around this time, in 1986 to be precise, I went to South Africa. There I met Abdullah Omar Naseef who was visiting that country. He was at that time the chief of the World Muslim League. I immediately extended an invitation to him to visit our madrasa. He accepted our invitation. It became big news in India. Omar Naseef was riding the crest of popularity in the Muslim world with his dynamism. The popular reaction in India was "Such a big man, coming to Akkalkuwa!" Omar Naseef is a great man. May Allah bless him. He always thought big. I never heard him saying no. Anybody who went to him, he would say "yes" and "done".

His arrival in Akkalkuwa in 1987 proved to be a turning point in the history of the Muslims of Akkalkuwa. It was a big program from our point of view. However, it was a small program looking at the stature of Omar Naseef. He faced a lot of difficulties reaching Akkalkuwa. There were no paved roads. The best car available then was the Ambassador. And we did not have enough resources. In his speech, however, he said he was overwhelmed by the love of the Muslims of India. "This will remain my most memorable visit." That is what he said. Then Omar Naseef invited us to the Muslim World League and introduced us to people in Kuwait. I always visit him when I visit Saudi Arabia.

So our Jamia Akkalkuwa continued to make steady progress in 1980s and 1990s. The strength rose from six students to 500, 700, 1,000. Today our Jaamia is the biggest madrasa for memorizing the Qur'an in Asia. We have 10,000 students who are currently memorizing the Qur'an in Jamia and other Jamia affiliates. We have more than 100 branches. Every year, 1,500 students graduate from the Jamia after having memorized the Holy Qur'an. At other madaris there are only 200-300 students. In Deoband itself there are only 250 students in the memorizing Qur'an section (tahfeez al-Qur'an). So far, 15,000 students are already hafiz and are working in various parts of the country. In Deoband, the memorizing Qur'an section is not big. There the focus is on the alim studies (alamiyyat). Every year Deoband produces 800 to 900 alims.

Then we realized that in Akkalkuwa there were no opportunities for mainstream worldly education. So we helped the villagers start a high school. We constructed the building for them. At that time it cost us 2.5 million rupees. Then we started our own high school. Then a junior college. The students from the local high school had no opportunity to continue higher studies so they started coming to our junior college. Then we launched a Unani medical college (BUMS). Then we launched ITIs. So far, nearly 2,000 students have benefited from these technical institutes. Since there is a certain criteria set by the government to enlist students, our huffaz did secondary education after completing their memorization courses and got into these technical institutes. But most of the students who came to join our technical institutes were from regular schools, but once they joined the technical institutes run by us we provided them with religious education. That was an incentive for them. They got an Islamic way of life. So a Muslim student at our ITI did not just become a technical expert but a good Muslim too. And those Hindus who enroll in our technical institutes become sympathetic to the Muslim issues.

So now we have a Unani medical college, technical institutes, B.Ed. colleges, D.Ed colleges, polytechnic colleges, D. Pharm College, B. Pharm College and a B.E. engineering college. The most important point in our colleges is that there is no concept of donation. There are hundreds of students to whom we provide free education in our colleges. All this has improved the economy of Akkalkuwa. Akkalkuwa is not what it was when we first visited in 1980. Akkalkuwa has become a proper town. I have now spent 30 years there. I have never faced any difficulty from our Hindu brothers in Akkalkuwa. They have been very helpful. In fact, their students are enrolled in our institutes as well.

I can safely say that after Aligarh this is the largest chain of institutions. [It is worth pointing out that Maulana Vastanwi has helped construct 5,000 mosques in Maharashtra's remote districts. Many of these mosques have cost 5 million rupees and some even 10 million rupees. He has helped dig 4,000 bore wells for drinking water and set up hundreds of primary schools. To date he has set up 2,500 primary Islamic centers]. So far, the Akkalkuwa campus is far bigger than Deoband. But Deoband is prestigious. There is no doubt about that. We have 12,500 students with lodging and boarding facilities. Deoband has only 3,000 students.

Q: What will you say to your adversaries?

A: Let me clarify here, I don't call them adversaries. What I say is that we have to take everybody along -- Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Christians. We have to work together to build the nation. We have to be big-hearted. If we take a communal stand, it will not produce good results for us. We have to cleanse our heart and mind and join the march for the moral and industrial progress of our country. Similarly, I appeal to non-Muslim Indians to provide Muslims with the space they deserve to prosper. Both need each other. And for this attitudinal change we need education.

Q: There is a perception among some people that maulana is being opposed because he belongs to the south.

A: I disagree with that assessment. That is not correct. Members of the Deoband Shoura belong to all parts of India. As I mentioned before, I have been a member of the Shoura for the last 12 years. If they were prejudiced against anybody from the south, then I would not have been made the rector in the first place. They made me the rector. If they had in their minds that they should not make a Gujarati as the head, then they would not have appointed me. So how can they be biased? My appointment as Deoband rector is proof that there is no regionalism there.

Q: It seems you are very upset with the Urdu media?

A: No, I am not upset with them. We need the Urdu media. We need to promote Urdu. We are fighting for Urdu and the government is also working on it. Sahara newspaper is counted among the best Urdu newspapers in India. Then there are Inquilab and Urdu Times from Bombay; Siasat, Etemad and Munsif from Hyderabad. We need good journalists. But it is the responsibility of the newspaper owners to maintain their standards and earn credibility.

Q: There was some controversy about your resignation as well. It was reported that you resigned and then there reports that you did not?

A: Again it was media manipulation. When I heard that some students were agitating against my appointment, I told them that if they did not like me then I will tell the Shoura that since the students do not like me I will resign because a resignation can only be given to those who appointed me. I also said that I will resign if the Shoura is unhappy with me. The media immediately reported that I had resigned. On Feb. 23, when the Shoura meets I will tell them that if my personality leads to problems for Deoband, then they can relieve me. Who wants any harm to come to this great institution? Only Shoura will decide whether I will or will not stay at Deoband. The Shoura's decision will be the final decision. They are the decision-makers.

Q: Some say the current agitation against you is being fanned by the Madani family.

A: Regarding the Madani family, I will not say anything. I respect them. This is a very respectable family. Theirs is a historical contribution. My daughter is married in that family (Maulana Vastanwi's daughter is married to Maulana Arshad Madani's son). My daughter and son-in-law are leading a happy life. I will only repeat that I am not a BJP man. I am a man of education. My only goal is to promote education.

Q: There is also an allegation that you are out to convert Darul Uloom Deoband into a modern institute?

A: Those who are against us allege that we will convert it into a modern institute. Deoband is a religious institution. We cannot and will not deviate from its aims. Though I am the rector of Deoband, I cannot do anything that is not mandated by the Majlis-e-Shoura. It is that simple. At Deoband, I am answerable and accountable to the Shoura for each and every action. These unfounded rumors that are being spread against me that I will dilute the fundamental character of Deoband are baseless. I only have to execute the policies approved by the Shoura. That is the high command. You may not know this, but I cannot even get a student enrolled in Deoband. Those decisions are taken by the Shoura.

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QUOTES OF THE GREATS

2011-02-20T07:26:00.001+05:30

Fabulous Compilation

Napoleon said..
"The world suffers a lot. Not because of the violence of bad people, but because of the silence of good people !"

Michael Paul said..
I wrote on the door of heart, "Please do not enter"
Love came smiling and said: "Sorry I am an illiterate."

Einstein said..
"I am thankful to all those who said NO to me
It's Because of them I did it myself.

Abraham Lincoln said..
"If friendship is your weakest point then you are the strongest person in the world."

Shakespeare said..
"Laughing Faces Do Not Mean That There Is Absence Of Sorrow !
But It Means That They Have The Ability To Deal With It."

Shakespeare said..
"In The Times Of Crisis I Was Not Hurt By The Harsh Words Of My Enemies,
But By The Silence Of My Friends."

Shakespeare said..
"Never Play With The Feelings Of Others Because You May Win The Game.
But You Will Surely Lose The Person For Life Time."

Shakespeare said..
"Coin Always Makes Sound, But The Currency Notes Are Always Silent.
So When Your Value Increases Keep Yourself Calm Silent."

William Arthur said..
"Opportunities Are Like Sunrises, If You Wait Too Long You Can Miss Them." Hitler said..
"When You Are In The Light, Everything Follows You,
But When You Enter Into The Dark, Even Your Own Shadow Doesn't Follow You."

John Keats said..
"It Is Very Easy To Defeat Someone, But It Is Very Hard To Win Someone."

__._,_.___

Prophet: The Perfect Role Model (by Dr. Khaled Almaeena, Editor in Chief of Arab News)

2011-02-16T07:03:00.001+05:30

http://arabnews.com/opinion/columns/article261893.ece?comments=all#comments

Prophet: The Perfect Role Model

By DR. KHALED ALMAEENA
Editor in Chief, Arab News

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born on Rabiul Awwal 12 of the Hijrah calendar.

His birth, on a Monday, came 570 years after that of the Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him). The Prophet was born in the city of Makkah to Abdullah, the son of Abdul Muttalib, the venerable sheikh of the Quraish, the ruling clan of Makkah.

The Prophet Muhammad, called Al-Ameen (The Trustworthy) even by his enemies, was the last of the prophets sent by Allah. There is no other prophet on whose life so much light has been shed. Born after the age of myth, living in the full glare of history, his sayings and actions were documented as no other prophet's were. Recorded in minute detail, their authenticity has been questioned by no fair scholar.

The Prophet's life is a shining example for all to follow. He was the kindest of persons — a sense of compassion that was directed at Muslims and non-Muslims alike. His care for those around him and even for those who caused him harm provides shining examples of true nobility. His love for orphans was deep, and the kindness that he exhibited to the needy, the humble and the poor knew no bounds.

It is extremely difficult for the Muslims of today to imagine and much less to endure the hardships that the Prophet and his companions underwent. In the ninth year of his mission, the Prophet — having been persecuted and terrorized by his people in Makkah — headed for Taif, home to the Banu Thaqif tribe. There he went to preach his message but was treated rudely by the tribal elders, who told him to clear off and even sent street urchins after him to beat him and pelt him with stones. He bled profusely causing his entire body to be covered with blood and his sandals to become clogged to his feet.

He headed away from the town and took respite near a rock and made a heart-rending invocation to God Almighty beseeching mercy for the people who had persecuted him a few moments earlier.

It is said that the heavens were moved by the Prophet's prayer and the Archangel Gabriel came and said that God Almighty is aware of what has passed and that he has deputed an angel in charge of the mountains. The angel in charge of the mountains then came forward and offered to bring the mountains overlooking Taif to collide with each other to destroy the inhabitants. However, being a mountain of mercy himself and the mercy of the worlds, the Prophet refused. Note the conduct of our noble Prophet. Irritated by a little trouble or abuse from someone, we spend years scheming and devising ways to take revenge. How far removed are the Muslims of today from the Prophet who they consider their exemplar.

In spite of suffering so much at the hands of the Taif mob, the Prophet did not curse or seek revenge, even when the opportunity arose. Instead, he pleaded for mercy.

When there was a stop in a Makkan woman who would repeatedly throw garbage on him as he walked in the streets, the Prophet — being an icon of compassion — asked people about her and even humbly visited her after hearing she had fallen ill.

Over 14 centuries have gone by since he, the Last of the Messengers, left us, but his message — one that was earmarked by mercy for the entire creation — lives on. His examples live on to lead us from darkness to light. His life was one of mercy, compassion, care, consideration, kindness and tolerance for all. His sayings, known as Hadiths, bear testimony to this. One particular theme found in his sayings relate to the rights of women. It is without a doubt that Islam afforded women an honorable and respected position. However, it is sad to see people, many Muslims included, ignorant of this.

On one occasion, he said, "Fear Allah in respect of women." He also said, "The best of you are they who behave best to their wives." In another he said, "A Muslim must not hate his wife, and if he be displeased with one bad quality in her, let him be pleased with one that is good." In one more Hadith, he said, "The more civil and kind a Muslim is to his wife, the more perfect in faith he is."

It is no wonder then that the Prophet Muhammad's employer was none other than a woman, Sayyidatuna Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her). So impressed was she by his kindness, compassion, manners and trustworthiness that they married, a model marriage that is often cited by scholars as a perfect example for Muslims to follow. Unlike those jihadists who preach hatred and dislike for non-Muslims and even to those Muslims who don't subscribe to their views, the Prophet's own behavior stands contrary to the way they call to. Let them take heed to the fact that it was the Prophet who accepted Safiyyah and Mariya in his home as his wives — one being of Jewish and the second being of Christian heritage.

In an attitude that was revolutionary at that time, the Prophet taught his companions to remain in their mothers' service, saying that Paradise lies beneath their feet.

Today, as we stumble through a confused and turbulent world, as we grope in darkness and as we suffer from uncertainty and depression, we must look for — and grasp at — the teachings of the Holy Prophet so that they will act as a cure for many of the social ills that have befallen our world.

The world faces a host of seemingly insoluble problems. In the West, people speak of depression and decay in society. In the East, industrial and technological progress has created a vacuum in society. Many people are floundering in darkness. They cling to values that have nothing to do with life. They join cults. For role models they look to unworthy individuals who are moral vacuums.

For us the perfect role model is the Last Messenger of God. His life, his dealings with young and old and both friend and foe are an inspiration to all of us.

Let us teach ourselves and our children about the life of the Holy Prophet and use it in our daily lives so that we may improve our conduct and become better human beings. Let us be more tolerant, more forgiving and show compassion to all our brothers and sisters in humanity, irrespective of their race or religion.

Let us pray for a better world. Ameen

Gastroenterologist Dr. Ahmed Ali felicitated by colleagues, friends

2011-02-10T07:35:00.003+05:30

Gastroenterologist felicitated by colleagues, friends

Special Correspondent

Surgical gastroenterologist M. Ahmed Ali, who was recently selected for the Padma Shri award, was felicitated by colleagues, students and friends at a function organised by Dr. Mehta's Hospitals here on Saturday.

Dilip Mehta, executive director of the hospital, led the felicitations. “Dr. Mehta's Hospital is a recognised centre for various postgraduation courses. Dr. Ali has been associated with the hospital for over four decades. Mehta Hospitals is immensely proud of his achievements. It is an honour long overdue,” he said, describing Dr. Ali as having “inborn leadership qualities [and one who] created generations of competent medical professionals.”

Sameer Mehta, Chief Executive Officer, who presented a memento to Dr.Ali, said that at the 77-year-old hospital, the doctor had kept everyone smiling even during the toughest of times.

Members of the Dr. Mehta's Hospitals, including his students, recalled their association with him, be it in classroom or hospital and praised him for his efficiency and diligence as a teacher.

Dr. Ali, in his address, recalled his work in Thanjavur Medical College and said he had listened to the “sound advice” of his teachers who told him to not run after money and instead serve people. Paying attention to the advice given to him helped him work for middle class patients. He said that during a cholera epidemic, he did not have enough bottles of intravenous fluid and had to depend on tender coconut water. He had read about the therapy and used it to save patients.

Recalling the benevolence of the Mehtas, the owners of the hospital, he said the hospital was now a 250-bed institution.

(Source: The Hindu)

M. RAFEEQUE AHMED GETS PADMA SHRI AWARD

2011-02-02T22:45:00.003+05:30

M. RAFEEQUE AHMED GETS PADMA SHRI AWARD

V. M. Khaleelur Rahman

Mr. M. Rafeeque Ahmed, the Chairman of the Farida Group and the recently elected Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports has been honoured with the prestigious Padma Shri award for the current year 2011. It is a befitting honour to him and the leather industry he represents by the government of India. He deserves it well and the leather fraternity in India particularly in Tamil Nadu is happy over this honour.

M. Rafeeque Ahmed

One feels that the Almighty has paid good dividends to Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed for his principled approach, determination and efforts to achieve what he wants along with his friendly nature – a beautiful trait inherited from his ever smiling, cool and calm but at the same time strong willed father the late Mecca Abdul Majeed sahib.

Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed expanded his family business – the Farida group – founded in 1957 by his father to the present position. To put it in the words of the group, what started off as a small unit in Ambur, Farida today has expanded to 12 plants in the last five decades making them self-sufficient in sourcing of raw materials like finished leather and other shoe components and sub-assemblies from their own subsidiaries. They have a work force of about 7000 people in their units and almost double the number benefit through indirect employment from this group.

Mr. Rafeeque Ahmed has also been serving the cause of the leather industry by holding high posts in different trade associations. He is now the Chairman of the Council for Leather Exports, President of the All India Skin and Hide Tanners and Merchants Association, Chairman of the Ambur Economic Development Organization Ltd.(AEDOL), etc. He was instrumental in establishing the Aedol icon “Ambur Trade Centre” in Ambur at the cost of Rs.11.5 crore with the government assistance for the development of the leather and leather products industry. He also holds many other posts in some other organizations. He is also a Director of the Apollo Hospitals. No doubt he is an active gentleman well known in the national and international leather circles. We congratulate him for receiving the prestigious national Padma Shri award and wish him all the best in all his future plans and programmes for the betterment of the industry.

(VMK in Indian Leather, February 2011 issue)

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LEATHER MARKET FIRM WITH INCREASING DEMANDS

2011-02-02T22:36:00.002+05:30

LEATHER MARKET FIRM WITH INCREASING DEMANDS

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

The leather market continues to be firm with increasing demands for leather and leather products such as shoes, garments, goods etc. Exporters are having orders for leather and leather products from domestic as well as overseas customers. But some are finding it difficult to execute them well within the stipulated time due to unavailability of raw materials to the normal extent. It is a difficult time now as the prices of raw skins and hides are increasing. There is no room even to prefer imports of these items as even foreign exporters have enhanced their prices abnormally. Anyhow in such tight situations workability and preference lose their meanings and only compulsions rule willy-nilly. This is what is happening today. Most of the leather exporters seem to go berserk in having raw materials at available prices. But they are not able to get increased prices for their exports in proportionate to the increases in the prices of raw materials.

There are only a few tanners left doing E.I. tanned hides and skins. The demand for these items is very much in the Chennai local market and transactions are taking place mostly for cash payments. The demand continues for tanned goat upper, suede and lining selections at varying prices depending on the quality and selection and some are selling goods consisting all sizes and selections together on “as it is” basis. Exporters say that buying has become a tough task.

(VMK in Indian Leather, February 2011 issue)

Muslim winners of 2010 Republic Day awards

2011-01-28T22:22:00.001+05:30

From: Kaleem Kawaja
Sent: Fri, 28 January, 2011 2:09:02 AM
Subject: Muslim winners of 2010 Republic Day awards

New Delhi: There are 12 Muslim personalities among 128 selected for Padma Awards-2010. This year the President of India has approved conferment of 128 Padma awards including one duo case (counted as one) and 12 in the category of Foreigners/ NRIs/ PIOs/ Posthumous. The Padma Awards-2010 comprises 13 PadmaVibhushan, 31 Padma Bhushan and 84 Padma Shri Awards. There are 31 ladies among the awardees.

Of 11 Muslim Padma awardees, two will get Padma Vibhushan, two others Padma Bhushan and the rest seven Padma Shri. Among the 11, two are Muslim ladies – both film actresses.

Padma Vibhushan

Sl No.	Name	Discipline	State/ Domicile
1	Dr. Akhlaqur Rehman Kidwai	Public Affairs	Delhi
2	Azim Premji	Trade and Industry	Karnataka

Padma Bhushan

Sl No.	Name	Discipline	State/ Domicile
1	Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi alias Khayyam	Art - Cinema - Music	Maharashtra
2	Ms. Waheeda Rehman	Art - Cinema	Maharashtra

Padma Shri

Sl No.	Name	Discipline	State/ Domicile
1	Ms. Tabassum Hashmi Khan alias Tabu	Art - Cinema	Maharashtra
2	Shri Irfan Khan	Art- Cinema	Maharashtra
3	Prof.(Dr.) E.A. Siddiq	Science and Engineering - Agricultural Science	Andhra Pradesh
4	Shri Mecca RafeequeAhmed	Trade and Industry	Tamil Nadu
5	Prof. Mansoor Hasan	Medicine- Cardiology	Uttar Pradesh
6	Prof. (Dr.) MadanurAhmed Ali	Medicine - Gastroenterology	Tamil Nadu
7	Prof. Riyaz Punjabi	Literature and Education	Jammu and Kashmir
8	Dr. Azad Moopen	Social work	UAE

Padma Awards, the country's highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, PadmaBhushan and Padma Shri. The Awards are given in all disciplines/ fields of activities, viz. art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. 'Padma Vibhushan' is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; 'PadmaBhushan' for distinguished service of high order and 'Padma Shri' for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year. The awards are conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan sometime around March/ April.

Link:

Hearty congratulations

2011-01-26T07:01:00.001+05:30

Dr. Ahmed Ali sahab

Dear Dr. Ahmed Ali sahab, Assalamu Alaikum

We have just now received the happy news that you have been named for Padma Shree Award for this year. It has brought immense happiness to all of us which cannot be expressed in words. People are sending this news by sms and e-mails. We are all proud of you. The medical service you are rendering is really great. We express our heart felt congratulations to you.

Thanking you and best regards,

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman

Hearty congratulations to M. Rafeeque Ahmed sahab.

2011-01-25T20:32:00.004+05:30

M. Rafeeque Ahmed, Chairman, Farida Group, Chennai.

Dear M. Rafeeque Ahmed sahab,

Assalamu Alaikum

It is heartening to know that you have been named for Padma Shri Award for this year. It is a great honour to you and the leather industry for which your contribution is considerable. You are no doubt a man of action. We wish you all the best in all your progressive endeavours for the betterment of the industry, community and country. The leather fraternity in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, is in jubiliation in getting this pleasant news.

Hearty congratulations to you.

Best regards,

V.M. Khaleelur Rahman